Most chocolate bars pick one type of chocolate. Top Deck picked two, moulded a layer of each into a single bar, and built four decades of loyalty on the contrast.
Two chocolates, one bar
Top Deck is made by moulding a milk chocolate top layer directly onto a white chocolate base, so the two set together as a single bar rather than being wrapped or layered separately. The result is a bar that delivers both a creamy white chocolate hit and a more traditional milk chocolate flavour in the same bite, split cleanly down the middle when snapped.
A Rowntree bar that became a Nestlé staple
Top Deck's roots trace back to Rowntree Mackintosh, formed when York's Rowntree's merged with Halifax's Mackintosh's in 1969. Top Deck launched into that combined range in the years that followed and built a particularly strong following in Ireland and Scotland. In 1988, Nestlé acquired Rowntree in a deal worth around £2.5 billion, one of the largest hostile takeovers in UK corporate history at the time, and Top Deck has been made under the Nestlé name ever since.
The 2015 discontinuation and comeback
In 2015, Nestlé discontinued Top Deck in the UK, citing falling sales. The reaction was immediate: an online petition gathered thousands of signatures and fans, particularly in Ireland where the bar had near cult status, flooded social media asking for its return. Nestlé has since reintroduced Top Deck in various markets and formats, including sharing bags, as appetite for nostalgic, retro chocolate has grown across the UK confectionery market.
Where it sits today
Top Deck now sits alongside other returning classics in our retro sweets and chocolate collections, for anyone who remembers the original run or is trying it for the first time.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Top Deck chocolate bar?
Top Deck is a chocolate bar made of two distinct layers moulded together: a milk chocolate top sitting directly on a white chocolate base, eaten as one bar rather than two separate chocolates.
Who makes Top Deck?
Top Deck was originally produced by Rowntree Mackintosh and has been made by Nestlé since Nestlé acquired Rowntree in 1988. It has long been a particularly popular bar in Ireland and Scotland.
Was Top Deck discontinued?
Nestlé pulled Top Deck from UK shelves in 2015 due to falling sales, prompting an online petition and widespread complaints from long-time fans. It has since reappeared in various markets and formats as demand for retro and nostalgic chocolate has grown.