Having been a decade since the Yowie chocolate graced supermarket shelves, most Australians have given up hope that the schoolyard treat would ever return to our shores. But the doubtful were proven wrong this week with the announcement from the Yowie Group will be making a comeback Down Under after three years of success selling in the US.

The first shipment of Yowies – the Australian version of a Kinder Surprise complete with toy inside – is expected to arrive late February having confirmed an Australian and New Zealand distribution partner.

“Australia was a logical choice to begin our expansion outside of the US because of strong residual brand awareness and affinity for the product,” said Yowie chief executive Bert Alfonso.

The Yowie chocolate was first launched in Australia and New Zealand in 1995 by Cadbury and became one of the nation’s most beloved sweets – at one point it sold 65 million units, reaching sales of $100 million in a single year. It was eventually a disagreement in the early 2000s between Cadbury and Yowie’s inventors over rights that saw the chocolates cease production.