The real reason Snickers changed its name to Marathon

It's been almost a century since Snickers and its nougat-nut bliss first delighted our taste buds.

Though first developed in Chicago in 1930, and named after the company's family horse 'Snickers', it was bestowed a new name once it launched on foreign shores.

The iconic American chocolate bar is made of nougat, topped with caramel and peanuts, and encased in milk chocolate - but despite its success, most people don't know the unique backstory behind the chocolate bar's name.

And with news of a first-of-its-kind limited edition Snickers hitting supermarket shelves, there's no better time to set the record straight.

Known around the world as Snickers for the last 94 years, it took on a very different title when it officially launched in Britain in 1967.

Snickers opted to retitle the beloved chocolate bar 'Marathon', the name the owners have currently rebranded to, as part of a nostalgic throwback campaign for its fans.

Back in the late 60s, Brits were able to get their hands on a brand new Marathon bar, perhaps none the wiser it was the exact same chocolate - bar the packaging - enjoyed by hundreds of millions of people around the globe.  

Legend has it that Snickers execs changed the name to Marathon once it hit the UK because the original name rhymes with 'knickers'.

To avoid controversy and keep their fans happy, they relabelled their popular chocolate, a change that lasted for a whopping 23 years, from 1967 to 1990. 

In 1990, Snickers owners, Mars, wanted universal names for its products so the firm changed it back to Snickers.

But even more bizarre is that during the same period, Mars launched their very own Marathon bar, a chocolate treat worlds away from their rebranded Snickers.

In fact some might have called it the US answer to Britain's loved Curly Wurly, as both bars were made of chocolate-coated caramel. 

Back in 1970, British chocolate company Cadbury launched the long, flat and chewy bar, now famous for its white, purple and multicolour packaging - but it didn't stay unique for long. 

After Cadbury launched it in the US the same year, Mars created their own version, and clearly looked to the UK for inspiration in both name and product.

Although it shared the same name as UK Snickers, it was a totally different bar.

Meanwhile the US Marathon bar was almost identical to the Curly Wurly, save only for its bright red packaging, which featured a ruler printed on the reverse with a 20cm marking.

The confusion didn't last long as it was discontinued 11 years later, in October 1981. 

Marathon (Snickers) bars are set to race back to Britain's shelves as the beloved chocolate treat makes a grand return after 34 years.

In a limited run, Snickers will return to its former name - delighting fans who have missed the iconic brand ever since it was changed in the 90s.

Chocolate chiefs at Mars Wrigley - who also own M&M, Galaxy, Twix and Maltesers - are launching the retro rebrand to celebrate 90 years of the company operating in the UK.

Steve Waters, Senior Brand Manager, said: 'We're excited to bring back the Marathon bar branding for a limited period. It's a great way to celebrate over 90 years of Mars making chocolate in the UK.

'We hope fans of Snickers, who remember when it was called Marathon, will enjoy picking it up in store!'

The iconic American chocolate bar first hit the shelves in 1930 and according to the Mars Company website, it's still 'at the top'.

Snickers was first created in 1968, and was named after Mars' creators - confectioners Frank and Ethel Mars - favourite horse, which died just a year before it was released.

Frank Mars, born in 1883, was the founder of the Mars Company.

As a child he had polio, and learned how to hand dip chocolate sweets during his illness.

He reportedly loved to experiment and create new recipes.

At 19, he discovered a talent for creating molasses chips (buttercream sweets) and would sell them at home and to local stores.

With his sweet tooth, he took over a wholesale candy firm in Minneapolis in the same year he married his wife Ethel.

In 1911 he moved to Seattle and experimented with candy manufacturing - and after a few tries eventually The Mar-o-Bar company, was born and the rest is history.

Following an inspirational life in the chocolate industry, Frank passed away in 1933 after collapsing on the floor of his Chicago factory.