After nearly five decades of tingling tastebuds with its “totally tropical taste”, the Coca Cola Company has announced that Lilt is to be discontinued.
One of the UK’s most iconic retro fizzy drinks has been discontinued after nearly 50 years to make way for a rebrand.
As of today, Lilt has been relaunched as Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit, reports The Manc.
Lilt launched in 1975 and went on to become a household name, largely because of its advertising.
One famous television advert in 1988 featured a parody of a milkman known as the ‘Lilt Man’, who delivered Lilt in a ‘Lilt float’ on a Caribbean beach, and then in 1998, the drink was promoted again with advertisements featuring two Jamaican women, Blanche Williams and Hazel Palmer, who became known in the media as the ‘Lilt Ladies’.
The new Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit flavour / Credit: Coca Cola Company
The fizzy drink was only sold in a handful of countries outside the UK – including Ireland, Gibraltar, and the Seychelles.
But now, the brand name has been stripped from shop shelves.
Lilt has today relaunched as the brand-new Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit, which the Coca Cola Company assures is “still bursting with tangy tropical flavours” just like Lilt, only it’s “just got itself a new name.”
Iconic tropical fizzy drink discontinued and rebranded after 50 years / Credit: Coca Cola Company
New Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit – which will be sold in 330ml cans, 500ml bottles, and two-litre bottles in both the original and zero-sugar version – featuring “the same totally tropical taste” as Lilt will start to roll-out in shops nationwide today, and feature “a graphic nod to the totally tropical taste of the product’s roots”, according to Coca Cola.
“Our main priority with this announcement is to reassure Lilt’s loyal fanbase that absolutely nothing has changed when it comes to the iconic taste of the drink they know and love,” says Martin Attock, GB VP of commercial development at Cocoa Cola Europe.
“It’s still bursting with tangy tropical flavours. It’s just got itself a new name.”
If you've got a seriously sweet tooth, then you're going to love this new opening.
It seems like there's been a flurry of new bakeries popping up in and around Leeds recently, and we're certainly not complaining.
Introducing Crumbb, a beautiful new bakery that has just opened its doors on Hyde Park Road just moments outside of the city centre.
Owner Naila started the businesses as a wholesaler six years ago, stocking up local businesses from far and wide with sweet treats.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Since then, Crumbbs opened its first location in Bradford just a few months ago that has been nothing short of a resounding success. So much so, that Crumbbs 2.0 was born right here in Leeds a few days ago.
Right, let's talk you through what's on offer.
For the sweet toothed out there, there's a whole myriad of treats for you to enjoy. We're talking giant NYC-style cookies, fluffy cinnamon buns topped with gooey icing, brownies slices, cookie muffins, rocky road, flapjack, the list is truly endless.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can even get warm cookie trays and hot brownies to enjoy in house that can be topped with ice cream or thick custard.
And it doesn't stop there, Crumbbs also whip up freshly baked savoury focaccia slices as well as cheese twists, pizza slices and savoury rolls filled with creamy mozzarella and herbs.
They've also got a fabulous drink selection on offer including matcha, coffee and hot chocolates.
Located in Headingley, we've got a feeling this spot is going to be a huge hit with students and locals alike looking to get their sweet treat fix. But they'll have to beat us to it first.
The hidden Leeds bakery serving giant cheese twists, pickle sausage rolls and chocolate focaccia
Clementine Hall
This spot in the city is baking up some weird and wonderful creations.
But you'll have to act fast if you want to get your hands on them, as it's only open one day a week for all your doughy desires.
Introducing Fold, a focaccia-focused bakery by the talented team behind The Cheesy Living Co.
Rewind to this time last year and with three restaurants flourishing across Leeds, the team needed a space to bake all their bread and sweet treats in-house to supply to sites.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And this is where Fold came in, located underneath the arches of Brussels Street on the outskirts of the city centre - it may take a while to find this spot but once you have, it'll be worth it.
And they're making some of the most inventive bakes that we've seen.
Of course there'll always be a focaccia on offer, with flavours ranging from crispy chilli oil, sesame and spring onion to kimchi, cheese and pistachio.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And it's not just savoury focaccia, you'll even find gooey chocolate and banana focaccia as well as Biscoff waffle focaccia....yep, seriously.
Elsewhere they specialise in gigantic footlong cheese twists with more crispy bits than soft, as well as chorizo and cheese stuffed sausage rolls and a range of freshly baked bagels for you to go home and smear in your cream cheese of choice.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Some seriously spectacular specials have been the gochujang cookies and the 'pickle roll', basically like a sausage roll but with...pickles.
It seems there's really no boundaries for where these bakes will go, and you can guarantee that every visit will be different than the rest.
Only open on Saturdays from 10am - 1pm, Fold are changing the baking game. Pop in and say hello, you won't be disappointed.
Emily Sergeant -
14th February 2023 
