Drifter spent decades as one of Nestle's quieter chocolate bars — never as loud as a Kit Kat or an Aero, but with a genuinely loyal following that still asks after it years after it vanished from shelves.
A Wafer Bar With Rowntree's Roots
Drifter began life under Rowntree's, the York confectioner that also gave the UK Kit Kat, Aero and Fruit Pastilles, before Nestle acquired Rowntree's in 1988 and folded Drifter into its own chocolate range. The bar consisted of two crisp wafer fingers layered with caramel and coated in milk chocolate — a format that put it in the same territory as caramel wafer bars, but with its own distinct texture and shape.
What Made It Different
- Two-finger format — sold as a pair of bars in one wrapper, similar in shape to other finger-style bars of the era.
- Wafer and caramel — thin, crisp wafer layers sandwiching a caramel filling.
- Milk chocolate coating — a full chocolate shell rather than a partial dip.
That combination gave Drifter a lighter, crunchier bite than thicker caramel bars, which is part of why fans of the bar still describe it as distinct from anything currently on the market.
Discontinued in 2018
Nestle discontinued Drifter in the UK in 2018 as part of a wider review of its confectionery range, pointing to declining sales compared with its larger, better-known bars. It wasn't accompanied by the kind of public campaign that has occasionally saved other discontinued bars, and there has been no official UK relaunch since.
Where That Leaves Drifter Fans
Today, Drifter sits in the same category as other retro sweets and chocolate bars that shoppers occasionally hunt for online or in import shops selling old stock. There's no current Nestle UK production, so anything found on shelves now is either imported or genuinely old stock rather than a modern relaunch.
Frequently asked questions
What was a Drifter bar?
Drifter was a chocolate bar made by Rowntree's, later Nestle, consisting of two crunchy wafer fingers layered with caramel and coated in milk chocolate — similar in structure to a caramel wafer bar.
Why was Drifter discontinued?
Nestle discontinued Drifter in the UK in 2018, citing declining sales as shoppers moved towards other bars in its range. It had been a smaller seller compared to Nestle's bigger chocolate brands.
Can you still buy Drifter?
No. Drifter is no longer manufactured in the UK. It occasionally turns up in old stock at discount retailers or import shops, but there has been no official UK relaunch since discontinuation.