Asda relaunches chocolate bar 30 years after legal battle

Asda has relaunched a chocolate bar that was absent from its shelves for nearly 30 years - do you remember Puffin bars? <i>(Image: Getty)</i>
Asda has relaunched a chocolate bar that was absent from its shelves for nearly 30 years - do you remember Puffin bars? (Image: Getty)
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A chocolate bar that landed Asda in the High Court has returned to its shelves after nearly 30 years.

Puffin bars are now back in Asda stores, having last appeared in 1997.

The original bars were pulled after a legal dispute with the makers of Penguin bars, who claimed they were too similar.

Although the court allowed the Puffin name to remain, it ruled that changes to the branding were necessary.

Despite complying, Asda eventually chose to discontinue the product.

Puffin bars officially returned to shelves this week (on Monday, August 17).

Asda announced the news on social media, posting: "Long before Caterpillar Gate, there was Bird Gate.

"Either way, Puffins are back and they are only a quid!"

The post quickly attracted comments from nostalgic shoppers.


Discontinued UK sweets/chocolates


One user said: "Happy they are back."

Another commented: "Nostalgia hit right there – getting classic Puffin bars back on the shelves for just a quid is absolute top-tier news!"

A third wrote: "Remember these."

Someone else commented: "I remember these. I’d fill my pockets."



However, other social media users were quick to pick up on the similarities between Puffin and the branded Penguin bar, which landed Asda in the High Court battle.

One user commented: "Ain’t they just a penguin."


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Another said: "Basically it is just a cheap Asda version of a Penguin chocolate biscuit."

Someone else wrote: "Puffin?? Use to be called penguin."

An Asda spokesperson said: “Customers are proud of finding a brilliant own-brand swap, especially when it saves them money and still tastes great.

“And with biscuits topping the table for the products Brits are permanently swapping, there couldn't be a better time to bring Puffin back, packed with personality and ready to take on the biscuit aisle.”

Have you ever tried Puffin bars? Let us know in the comments below.

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