One fan said ‘They’re our family’s favourite crisp. Absolutely devastated’
Walkers has said it’s to end production of a favourite type of crisps which have been around since the 1970s. KP Snaps will leave the shelves for good, leaving crisp fans devastated.
The snacks are made in the Newark Road in Lincolnshire – and crisp fans have reacted with outrage. KP, is owned by PepsiCo which said it was discontinuing the line to concentrate on ‘bestselling’ products.
The snack giant has confirmed that final stocks of the fiery tomato treats will be sold through wholesalers, retailers and online platforms during the coming weeks, according to the BBC.
Snaps are curved, rectangular extruded snacks made from potato starch and potato granules .PepsiCo stated: “Smiths Tomato Snaps have had a great run and will always hold a special place in our history, but evolving our portfolio allows us to focus on making more of the brands and flavours people love. We know that fans of Snaps will be sad to see them go, and we’d like to thank them for giving the brand their support over the years.”
PepsiCo’s Newark Road facility, constructed in 1937, was initially called the Smith’s Potato Crisp factory. Currently, it is primarily devoted to manufacturing Quavers, churning out 500 million packs of the snacks annually.
PepsiCo sold two million kilos of Smiths crisps in 2024, including Tomato Snaps, Frazzles, Chipsticks and Scampi Fries.
Fan Alex Ward told the BBC the crisps were a favourite snack. “Me and the wife often go to buy a box full. So really, it’s quite disappointing to know.”
Emma Seddon said she had a craving for the tomato-flavoured snacks when she was pregnant “I’ll still eat them now if I find them.” Garage mechanic Presley Cook said “I used to have them as a kid, not much anymore.”
Cheryl Smith said the decision to axe the snack as “out of order”. “That’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”
One fan said: “I used to get these from the tuck shop at school. I’ve always loved them then discovered they were being made now. They’re our family’s favourite crisp. Absolutely devastated.”
