If you're old enough to remember "a hint of mint one, and the red one's not there," you already know Starburst by its original UK name. The rebrand is one of the most-searched bits of Starburst trivia, and the real story behind it is worth clearing up.
Opal Fruits to Starburst: the actual timeline
Starburst launched in the UK in 1960 as Opal Fruits, made by Mars. The bar had already been sold in the US as "Starburst" since the 1960s, and in 1998 Mars rebranded the UK product to match the international name for consistency across markets. The switch was controversial enough at the time that it still gets brought up in nostalgia lists and "bring back the old name" petitions decades later.
Why it's stuck around
Starburst's appeal has always been straightforward: individually wrapped, intensely fruit-flavoured chewy squares in a small, shareable pack. That format — easy to portion, easy to carry, no chocolate to melt — has kept it a pocket-money and share-bag staple long after plenty of other 1960s confectionery disappeared.
What we actually stock right now
We currently carry several Starburst lines, all in stock: Starburst Minis Original Fruit Chews Bags 45g (sold as a box of 24), Starburst Minis Vegan Chews Sweets Pouch Bag 125g, Starburst Vegan Chewy Sweets Fruit Flavoured Pouch Bag 127g, and Starburst Vegan Chewy Fruit Flavoured Sweets 45g. All four are genuinely in stock today — the vegan lines have the strongest numbers, and the Minis Original and 45g vegan stick pack are special-order items with a roughly two-week lead time at the same price.
FAQ
Was Starburst really called something else in the UK?
Yes — it launched in the UK in 1960 as Opal Fruits and wasn't renamed Starburst until 1998, to bring it in line with the name already used in the US and other markets.
Why did Mars change the name from Opal Fruits to Starburst?
Mainly for brand consistency across international markets, since the product had been sold as Starburst outside the UK for decades already.
Are Starburst chews vegan?
The original Starburst recipe contains gelatine, but Mars now produces dedicated Vegan Starburst lines made without it — we stock several of these, including the Minis Vegan Chews and the Vegan Chewy Sweets pouches.
Is Starburst in stock at Supreme Sweets right now?
Yes — all four Starburst lines we list, including the original Minis and the vegan variants, are currently in stock, with a couple of them being special-order items that take about two weeks to arrive.