I and my brother remember eating Kunzle cakes in the forties and fifties when we lived in Barrow in Furness. Easily the best cakes I have ever tasted. If only we were able to buy them again you would be guaranteed two loyal customers.
Eddy
January 19, 2006
Easily the best cakes I have ever tasted
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Bring them back please. I remember them well and we used to have them most weekends in the 1970s, then they just disappeared. Anyone remember the ad on tv for them in the 1970s too?
Comment by neal — September 11, 2006 @ 10:07 pm
The world, thank god has moved on from Kunzle cakes which were the most disgustingly sweet and sickly things you could eat. Hideousmarshmallow confections on chocolate bases were included among them.
We are supposedly trying to stop childhood obeseity and tooth decay and these are not going to help.
I am 53 and I blame my diabetes on them.
They disappeared because they were poisonous.
Comment by S Warren — September 28, 2006 @ 12:25 pm
The world, thank god has moved on from Kunzle cakes which were the most disgustingly sweet and sickly things you could eat. Hideous marshmallow like confections on chocolate bases were included among them.
We are supposedly trying to stop childhood obeseity and tooth decay and these are not going to help.
I am 53 and I blame my diabetes on them.
They disappeared because they were poisonous.
Comment by S Warren — September 28, 2006 @ 12:26 pm
My comment to S. Warren is that if he is blaming kunzle cakes for his unfortunate diabetic condition he must have eaten wagon loads of them.In moderation they were no worse than any other cake or sweet of the time. I also say BRING THEM BACK.
Comment by John Hodgson. — October 31, 2006 @ 12:59 pm
Im too young-hah- just to remember the forties but I remember TV ads for ‘later’ versions of these yummie cakes from the 1970’s produced by Mr Kipling, but I havent seen any around since that time(mid 70’s ish) but I agree with all the descriptions, they were, to use a phrase of the day ‘Ace’
Comment by Bryan — November 14, 2006 @ 8:53 pm
i really wish they would come back. they were great and ive often thought of them over the years.what a great childhood memory.id like them brought back.
Comment by robin — April 4, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
I remember working at kunzles when i was 16 , the best days of my life, we could buy them from the factory shop on a friday , i work there till garretts green closed down
Comment by pauline — April 25, 2007 @ 11:43 pm
My father was transport manager at the five ways Kunzle’s. I remember being very popular at school because he would get me miss shapes and lots of cakes to take into my class on the last day of term. The Kunzle Easter eggs were all hand made and decorated so beautiful! Kunzle’s would always have parties for the staff’s children and take us to a pantomine every Christmas I have a photograph of my father and I on stage at one of these pantomines. So not only did they produce scrumptious cakes & chocolates they looked after their staff too!
Nice memories!
Comment by Barbara — May 5, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
I too remember enjoying them as a small boy, and would welcome their return.
In the 1984 film “Comfort And Joy” there is a Glasgow cafeteria scene in which a Kunzle cake is ordered and served up. Sadly the item is not shown in close-up so whether or not they actually still existed at that time I don’t know.
Comment by Mike Spiers — May 9, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
I was talking to my second cousin in England yesterday and she hadn’t heard of them. I guess she is too young! The Kunzle cakes I remember were cone shaped and we used to bite the top off the cone and lick out the cream! Absolutely yummy!
I also remember Jap cakes, though someone said they only had them in Scotland. I used to buy them in England, (Salford). When I started my first job in the fiftes, I would cross over the road at lunch time every pay day and buy them.
I hope we’ll be able to get them on the market again, but in Canada also because that’s where I live now.
Comment by Mary — May 14, 2007 @ 5:37 pm
I remember when I used to go to Blakenhale Junior School which was virtally opposite the Kunzle factory in Garretts Green where my sister worked, she often brought home mis-shaped showboats. Best cakes ever!
Around the time that Telstar was put into orbit Kunzle’s were commissioned to make a cake replica of it – I wonder if any Photo’s exist.
As far as getting Diabeties from Kunzle’s cakes – are you living on another planet? I suggest you do some proper resaerch into the condition instead of making ridiculous statements. Is it that you are a bitter grumpy old git who doesn’t like people to take pleasure from certain foodstuff’s. I think you will find that most nutrtion experts will agree that even cakes eaten in moderation will do no harm to the average person, it’s a shame that you have a problem with diabeties but please don’t try to put everyone else on a downer because you have a problem – live and let live.
Comment by Les — November 28, 2007 @ 6:05 pm
I came across this page whilst looking for the origin of the name jap cakes. I have a bakery in Kent and we still make Japs, a sort of cross between a meringue and a macaroon sandwiched together with cream , them covered in more cream a rolled in flaked nuts. I wonder if any of you cake fans can help with finding out the cakes origins.
Comment by HAZEL KING — February 12, 2008 @ 11:32 am
My happiest memories were of Kunzle cake showboats. They were a real treat, well, not so much of a treat, maybe once a week.
I would really love to see them back again.
Comment by Jo — April 8, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
I worked at Kunzles in the 60s my name is Barbara,our supervisor was name len I remember Pat Curry,yvonne and a few .The cakes were the best cream horns,eccles cakes,mint fingers,fruit farmhouse,chocolate cake was the best ever,what happened to Kunzles,the shop on a Friday for misfit cakes.It seemed so long ago.Thanks Barbara Brookes
Comment by barbarabrookes94@yahoo.co.uk — July 18, 2008 @ 4:42 pm
I remember Kunzle cakes; during a cuppa on Saturday 19th July 2008 at my brother’s home, the family talked about Kunzle cakes, they were delicious, without sounding greedy plese can we have some more. Has anyone the receipe? The best cakes I have ever tasted so much so I am still talking about them 50 years on.
Comment by Joan Davies — July 21, 2008 @ 3:02 am
Yes you can count on me for the campain, I have just read an account of “the Inside Story” by someone who was quite well up in the management was saying it would be prohibitive cost wise that may have been valid some 10 or 15 years ago but not now, with the introduction of cheaper materials in food manufacturing machinery you only have to look at the ice cream confectionary machinery to realise this. So come on LYONS,RMH,MR KIPLING buck your ideas up and lets see some of the wonderful confectionary your capable of especialy the Kunzle Showboats. In aticipation Mr T Gunn
Comment by Mr Timothy Gunn — July 21, 2008 @ 3:38 am
I am still hoping that one day kunzles cakes will be back in business,why not they have bought the whisper bar back and now are going to bring spangles back a taste of the sixties,things that are popular should return to us,there are a lot of people agree,bring back the showboats and all that sail in her,I Hope my opinion can help thankyou Barbara
Comment by barbarabrookes94@yahoo.co.uk — August 6, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
We were reminiscing the other day and my husband asked whatever happened to Kunzle cakes. What a treat it was back in the 60s, to sit in the Grand Hotel Soda Fountain, and order a pot of coffee or tea and a Kunzle showboat served with tongs (even though they were cellophane wrapped). Even though he himself is now diabetic, he says he would certainly have one as an occasional treat. BRING BACK KUNZLE CAKES!
Comment by Sylvia Raistrick — August 19, 2008 @ 10:03 pm
I am researhing Kunzle cakes for a new article and am utterly amazed by the response. I too remember the wonderful taste buds exploding and they were always a delight as a special treat.
I am now iwnw the process of corresponding with Waitrose whp apparently, after Sarah Kennedy’s radio programme, brought them back, Would dearly like to know why they stopped producing when obviously they were so very popular
Comment by peter carroll — October 16, 2008 @ 8:05 am
Let us know how you get on Peter.
Comment by Chris — November 13, 2008 @ 5:42 pm
Interestingly Kunzle cakes came up for discussion on our forum. Their description I remember but their name I do not.
http://www.womensthoughts.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=37&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
Nostalgia is a wonderful thing but were they really that good?
Comment by Anne — February 12, 2009 @ 10:36 pm
Interesting point Anne. Their taste is just a distant memory now, but I remember how much I liked them so they must have been good. We didn’t have them often, they were more the occasional treat sort of thing.
Comment by Chris — April 3, 2009 @ 10:25 pm
We used to go to the local beach for swims in summer. One of the highlights for us kids was traipsing up dripping wet to the shop above the beach to buy our Kunzle Showboats for a sugar boost. This was in the late 60s & early 70s. I can still remember the taste and texture of those most gorgeous of cakes. I associate them with summer and with irresistible sweetness.
Comment by Edwen — May 20, 2009 @ 2:46 pm
please bring back kunzle showboats as a child i would visit the local village shop and with my pocket money was able to buy myself one of the gorgeous cakes i particularly remember the various shapes topped with either lemon strawberry or chocolate and wrapped individually. I would love my children and grandchildren to sample these little delights as i also would again. please also bring back japs too!
Comment by amanda — July 19, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
I remember Kunzle cakes from my childhood in the fifties. A very special treat and they were wonderful. I remembered them this evening and thought I would try the internet to see if anyone else remembered them and was pleased to see how many do. It is hard to imagine why no one has brought them back. The difference between then and now is that, for example, a bar of chocolate or a special cake were an infrequent treat – there were no huge bags of sweet bars or an expectation that a sweet or bought cake would be a daily event. These days when hot cross buns and cream eggs can be bought the whole year round those special treats are no longer special and that is a pity.
Comment by Robert Secret — October 10, 2009 @ 11:00 pm
I remember them very well, a real treat and a mini work of art. They are a product just waiting to be developed. But i doubt the big boys would be interested.
Comment by Dave Bee — December 16, 2009 @ 1:16 am
please bring back the best cake ever bar none
Comment by nino cerefice — January 17, 2010 @ 9:43 pm
as kids we use to love them that chocolate cup with mousse creamy inside bring them back you will make a fortune they just dont make sweet cakes like that anymore xxx
Comment by mandy porter — February 2, 2010 @ 1:02 am