I bought retro Marathon bars in Morrisons and one found one big problem (Image: Alex Evans)
It’s up there with Opal Fruits as one of the most fondly remembered brands we’ve lost – which is why I did a double-take when I saw Marathon bars on the shelves of my local this weekend.
Marathon bars were one of the UK’s favourite chocolate bars for decades, until a controversial rebranding in 1990 saw the name ditched for Snickers. But Mars has brought the Marathon back for a ‘retro edition’ exclusively sold at – so I had to put it to the taste test. It turns out that there isn’t much different about the Marathon against the Snickers – the chewy nougat, the flaky peanuts and the sticky caramel is all present and correct.
:
The Marathon bar is not much of a marathon any more (Image: Alex Evans)
No, the only problem here is the very small size.
I was shocked, aghast, horrified and generally heartbroken to unwrap my Marathon Retro Edition By Snickers only to find that the chocolate bar inside was absolutely tiny. I had to check I hadn’t accidentally bought a fun-size packet by mistake (nope).
Getting the measuring tape out, the Marathon is a frankly pathetic 3.1 inches long, or 8cm.
According to the packaging, which I admit I should have checked before I bought them, these weigh 41.7g each. A regular Snickers – itself hardly a beast these days – is 48g. So these are 15% smaller than a regular Snickers bar.
According to analysis back in 2018, a four pack of Snickers was reduced from 232g to just 167g in 2018, a reduction of 28.1%.
While I enjoyed this blast from the past, I won’t be running for another 3 inch Marathon any time soon.
Of course, isn’t the only chocolate bar that’s been on a diet, with shoppers spotting the likes of Maltesers, M&Ms and Revels all getting smaller.
A spokesperson from Mars Wrigley UK previously told the Express: “At Mars Wrigley, our focus is always on offering great tasting, high quality chocolate at the best possible valueWe have been actively looking at ways to absorb the rising costs of raw materials and operations, but unfortunately, the growing pressures mean that more needs to be done.
“Reducing the size of some of our products, whilst raising prices, is not a decision we have taken lightly but it is necessary for shoppers to still be able to enjoy their favourite treats without compromising on quality or taste.”