The iconic lolly brand was removed from Australia in June because of rising production costs, much to the consternation of fans of the fruit-flavoured chew Starburst.
Popular with birthday parties and movie nights, the sweet’s absence in Australia was only noticed earlier this month, when a TikTok lamenting the disappearance attracted 270,000 views and over 1000 comments.
“Our Starburst products are imported from Europe and like many businesses that are importing products from overseas, the brand has been exposed to supply chain difficulties and rising cost pressures over the last two years,” a spokesperson for the company said. “After reviewing all options, we’ve made the difficult decision to discontinue the brand in Australia from June 2022.”
The spokesperson confirmed that the brand’s discontinuation was a long-term business decision and not a short-term viral marketing strategy.
According to local reports, the cost of many items for Australian consumers has been exacerbated by supply chain issues stemming from COVID-19 lockdowns, the war in Ukraine, and recent flooding in New South Wales.