Walking into a grocery store in the 1970s was a completely different experience from today. The shelves were stocked with brightly colored packaging, bold mascots, and food products that seemed almost futuristic at the time. Some of these grocery finds were discontinued due to changing tastes, others were phased out for health reasons, and some were simply victims of rebranding. Whether it was a favorite childhood cereal, a frozen dinner that felt like a special treat, or a snack that we couldn’t get enough of, these classic products are now just memories. Let’s take a trip down the aisles of the past and look back at 13 grocery store finds from the ‘70s we’ll never see again.
1. Jell-O 1-2-3
Jell-O was already a classic, but in the 1970s, they took it to a whole new level with Jell-O 1-2-3. This instant dessert magically separated into three layers as it set, with a gelatin bottom, a creamy middle, and a frothy top. It felt like a high-tech kitchen experiment, making it a favorite treat for kids and adults alike. Jell-O has endured despite some decisions Food52 considers dangerous.
Despite its popularity, Jell-O 1-2-3 was discontinued in the mid-1990s, leaving fans wondering why it ever disappeared. Some say changing consumer habits played a role, while others think it was simply too complicated to keep producing. Either way, it remains one of the most nostalgic grocery items of the era.
2. Pizza Spins
General Mills introduced Pizza Spins as a crunchy, pizza-flavored snack that quickly became a fan favorite. These little wheel-shaped chips packed a bold, zesty seasoning that gave them an authentic pizza taste. They were the perfect mix of crispy and savory, making them a must-have in lunchboxes and snack cabinets. According to General Mills, these weren’t just a common grocery item, they were cool.
Sadly, by the late ‘70s, Pizza Spins disappeared without much explanation. While modern pizza-flavored snacks like Combos and Pringles Pizza exist, nothing quite replicates the unique taste and texture of this lost favorite. Fans still reminisce about them, hoping for a comeback.
3. Marathon Bar
The Marathon Bar was a caramel lover’s dream—an extra-long, braided caramel bar covered in chocolate. At eight inches long, it was one of the longest candy bars ever sold, and the wrapper even had a ruler printed on it to prove it. It was advertised as lasting a “good, long time,” since it took a while to chew through all that caramel. This candy bar’s history could run marathons around itself, according to Candy Favorites.
Despite its loyal following, the Marathon Bar was discontinued in 1981. Some say it was simply too expensive to produce, while others believe it didn’t sell well enough. A similar bar, Cadbury’s Curly Wurly, is still available in the UK, but American fans still miss the original.
4. Nestlé Triple Decker Bar
Nestlé’s Triple Decker Bar was a chocolate lover’s dream, featuring layers of milk chocolate, white chocolate, and dark chocolate. The combination of flavors and textures made it feel extra special, like something out of a fancy candy shop. It was a perfect treat for those who couldn’t decide which kind of chocolate they liked best. The Retroist praises this treat as not just a candy bar but a work of art.
Despite its unique appeal, Nestlé discontinued the bar by the late ‘70s, and it never made a return. While there are plenty of multi-layered chocolate treats today, nothing quite matches the original Triple Decker Bar. If you remember having one, you were lucky to experience a truly special candy.
5. Super Sugar Crisp
Before it became Golden Crisp, this puffed wheat cereal was known as Super Sugar Crisp, and it wasn’t shy about its main ingredient. The bright red box proudly displayed Sugar Bear, the cereal’s mascot, who sang about how sweet and crunchy the cereal was. Like many kids’ cereals of the era, it was loaded with sugar and completely unapologetic about it.
As attitudes toward sugar changed, Post rebranded the cereal as Golden Crisp in the late ‘70s to make it seem healthier. While the formula didn’t change much, the era of proudly advertising sugar as the main attraction had come to an end. Today, Golden Crisp is still around, but the original name is a relic of a very different time.
6. Space Food Sticks
Inspired by the space race, Pillsbury introduced Space Food Sticks as a futuristic, high-energy snack. These chewy, tube-shaped treats came in flavors like peanut butter and chocolate, designed to mimic the food astronauts ate in space. For kids who dreamed of becoming astronauts, eating Space Food Sticks felt like a little piece of NASA right at home.
By the early ‘80s, these snacks had disappeared from store shelves. While modern energy bars serve a similar purpose, they don’t have the same space-age charm. Space Food Sticks remain a nostalgic favorite for those who grew up during the height of the Apollo missions.
7. Chuck Wagon Food
Frozen dinners were a lifesaver for busy families in the ‘70s, and Chuck Wagon meals had a Western-themed twist. These TV dinners featured hearty cowboy-inspired meals like Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, and cornbread. The packaging even had an old-fashioned chuck wagon on it to complete the theme.
Chuck Wagon dinners disappeared from freezers by the early ‘80s, likely losing out to bigger brands like Banquet and Swanson. While frozen meals are still a staple in grocery stores today, the charming cowboy branding is a thing of the past. For many, it was the ultimate comfort meal after a long day.
8. Freakies Cereal
Freakies was one of the strangest and most beloved cereals of the ‘70s, featuring a cast of colorful monster-like mascots. The cereal itself was similar to Cap’n Crunch, but the quirky characters and their wacky commercials made it stand out. Kids loved collecting Freakies prizes, from stickers to figurines.
Despite its initial success, Freakies was discontinued by the late ‘70s. It made a brief comeback in the ‘80s, but it never regained its former glory. Today, it’s remembered as one of the most creative (and weirdest) cereals of the decade.
9. Danish Go-Rounds
Pop-Tarts weren’t the only toaster pastries in town—Kellogg’s Danish Go-Rounds were a flakier, spiral-shaped alternative. They came in fruity flavors and were meant to be a little more “elegant” than the standard Pop-Tart. Their unique shape made them stand out, and they were a popular breakfast treat.
Despite their popularity, Danish Go-Rounds disappeared in the late ‘70s. Kellogg’s later introduced a similar product called Toast’em Danish, but it never quite caught on. Pop-Tarts ultimately won the toaster pastry battle, leaving Danish Go-Rounds as a lost breakfast treasure.
10. Morton Honey Buns
Before pre-packaged honey buns became a gas station staple, Morton made frozen Honey Buns that you could bake at home. These oversized pastries were covered in a sticky glaze and had just the right amount of cinnamon. They were a favorite for weekend breakfasts or a quick after-school snack.
At some point, Morton stopped making their version, and while other brands filled the gap, the original is still missed. There was something special about pulling a hot, fresh honey bun out of the oven instead of eating one straight from a plastic wrapper. For many, Morton Honey Buns were the gold standard of breakfast pastries.
11. Koogle Peanut Butter
Kraft’s Koogle was peanut butter with a twist—it came in fun flavors like chocolate, banana, cinnamon, and vanilla. It had a smooth, creamy texture and was marketed as the “hip” alternative to regular peanut butter. Kids loved the fun mascot, and parents liked that it was an easy way to make sandwiches more exciting.
Despite its popularity, Koogle was discontinued by the early ‘80s, likely because flavored peanut butter just wasn’t a long-term hit. While similar products have popped up over the years, none have quite captured the same magic. If you ever got to try Koogle, you probably remember how unique it was compared to regular peanut butter.
12. Pudding Roll-Ups
Before Fruit Roll-Ups became a staple snack, Jell-O experimented with Pudding Roll-Ups in the late ‘70s. These chewy treats had the texture of a fruit roll-up but came in creamy flavors like chocolate and vanilla. It was an attempt to turn pudding into a portable snack, and for a while, it was a hit with kids.
Unfortunately, Pudding Roll-Ups didn’t last long—maybe because they were a little too sticky, or maybe because they were just too ahead of their time. Today, pudding is still a grocery store favorite, but no one has attempted to make it into a roll-up again. It remains one of those weird, wonderful snacks of the past.
13. Aspen Soda
Aspen was a crisp, apple-flavored soda introduced by PepsiCo in the late ‘70s. It was a refreshing change from the usual lemon-lime and cola options, offering a unique, tart-sweet taste. It had a small but loyal following, with some people swearing it was the best soda they ever had.
Despite its devoted fans, Aspen was discontinued in the early ‘80s, likely due to low sales. Pepsi later replaced it with Slice, but the apple flavor never returned. Those who remember Aspen still talk about how there’s never been another soda quite like it.
The grocery stores of the 1970s were filled with products that felt new, exciting, and sometimes downright strange. Some of these lost foods were simply ahead of their time, while others fell victim to shifting health trends or changing corporate strategies. While we may never see these items again, they live on in the memories of those who were lucky enough to try them. If only we could take one more trip down those vintage grocery aisles, we’d fill our carts with all these nostalgic favorites once again.
