In terms of food products, the Trente Glorieuses experienced great brands. Indeed, the 60s, 70s and 80s saw the birth of many innovative food products with flamboyant marketing. As a result, brands such as Pschitt, Mistral Gagnant, Pastador have become cult… You surely have memories of these brands, their logo, their packaging, or even their advertising spot. These products have experienced their heyday before the 21st century, and unfortunately did not survive. Here is a list of 10 brands that have disappeared from our shelves…
Taken over by large groups, or shunned by the French
Nowadays, while some brands have completely disappeared from the shelves of our supermarkets, others have purely and simply taken on a new name. Reality confirms it. In France, hundreds of brands are born and die every year. The same goes for the big brands, which enjoyed great success in the 1970s. Brands that are now only a distant memory. This is often due to competition, in particular from large food groups, which have gradually redeemed all their “little” adversaries. But also, sometimes, to a simple change in the customs of French households.
In the 1980s, with the globalization of the American way of life, the fashion was to overconsume highly processed products. However, since then, the French have increasingly tended to turn away from these foods and prefer organic products for example. But everything remains to be done, because many nostalgic people are still pleading for a return to the market of their favorite products from their childhood years. Drinks, sweets, as well as dairy products… Discover these 10 flagship products that have disappeared from our shelves.
The 10 flagship brands that have disappeared
The Pschitt
This soft drink, flavored with either orange or lemon, marketed in 1954 by the Perrier Vittel group, was a real success in the 70s and 80s. commercials. The “Pschitt” brand had even made its way into everyday language, after a French journalist used the brand as an onomatopoeia. And this, to describe the launch failures of Soviet rockets in 1957. In 2005, the brand, since bought by the Castel group, disappeared. Today, it is still possible to buy the soft drink on the internet.
Bonitos
You remember Bonitos? Small multicolored sweets, which arrived in France in the mid-1950s. They immediately won over gourmets in France. In 1986, Mars, the American firm that markets them, decided to change their name to “M&M’s”. The Bonitos of your childhood memories still exist! They just changed their identity!
The Bamboula brand
This brand caused a big scandal, and for a good cause. Marketed by Biscuiterie Saint-Michel in 1987, the Bamboula chocolate biscuits were aided by marketing that was racist to say the least. Their mascot: a little black boy living in an imaginary mode. This world named ‘”Bambouland”. We can already see some problems there. We could therefore follow the adventures of this little boy in comic strips on the packets of cakes. The brand also sponsored a “Bamboula village” in Loire-Atlantique. A kind of amusement park, supposed to reproduce an African village with characters in “traditional” dress. Faced with several complaints, in particular from SOS Racismethe brand disappeared from the shelves in the early 90s.
The Raider
A very popular brand in France in the 70s. In fact, the ancestor of Twix! In 1991, Mars, the American giant that marketed them, decided, as with Bonitos, which had become M&M’s a few years earlier, to change their European name “Raider” to that of “Twix”. The brand under the name Raider therefore disappeared, but not its product…
Pastador brand
Nutella made in France! This dark chocolate spread was marketed by Côte-d’Or in 1952. But faced with overwhelming competition from Nutella, Pastador brand stopped producing them in the 1990s. However, it seems to have been on the market again in a few lucky supermarkets for a few years.
Chambourcy
Petit-suisse, marketed by the ALB company, founded in 1934. Later, they sold their dairy to the Benoît brothers. Who subsequently created the firm Chambourcy, future owner of the brands La Laitière, Flanby, Créola… Popularity Chambourcy products then soared, so much so that in 1978, the company occupied the third place in the French market for dairy products. In 1987, the brand unveiled its new slogan: “Chambourcy, oh yes”. Performed by British singer Sandy. However, in 1995, the mark was the subject ofa takeover by the giant Nestlé. Thus, the products have disappeared from the French shelves.
The Fairy Rock
Founded in 1940, it marketed yogurts that quickly won over households. In the 1960s, it was one of the first brands of dairy products in France. The founders ended up selling the company to the Unilever group in 1965. Which was then bought by Chambourcy, before being swallowed up in turn by the giant Nestlé. With all these changes, in 1989, La Roche aux Fées has disappeared totally rays. Today, it would seek to be reborn from its ashes.
Banga brand
Founded in 1968, Banga was part “made in France” drinks made of sugar and orange. It belonged, to begin with, to Schweppes. The drink reached a peak of popularity in the 80s, thanks in particular to its friendly mascot, a little monkey. But also thanks to these heady commercials, composed by Richard Gotainer. In 1999, Banga was acquired by Oasis and the product disappeared from the shelves.
The Winning Mistral
Marketed from the 60s, the Winning Mistral was a powdered candy that was inspired by straws in a playful way. On some packages, if you found the word “Gain”, you were entitled to a second free candy. The Mistral very quickly became one of the candies of reference in all playgrounds. It was even the subject of the title of the song by Renaud, which in turn became cult. Acquired by Haribo, the candy has definitely disappeared from the shelves in 1987.
The Bannier jam brand
Created in 1815 in the Paris region, Bannier jams were quickly successful, thanks to bold advertising displays, in all homes in France. Until the end of the 1960s, their popularity had not changed and the Argenteuil factories were still running at full speed. However, in the early 1970s, Bannier jams were taken over by a competitor, and they too disappeared.