Nigella Lawson couldn't be happier that 90s retro crisps are making a comeback

Virgin Radio

12 Sep 2024, 08:58

Classic lunchbox favourites from the 90s and 00s are flying off shelves, sparking a nostalgic crisp revival led by some of the most unusual flavours.

The 90s are back, and not just in fashion or tech! Retro crisps, a lunchbox staple for many, are making a serious comeback.

With everything from flip phones to scrunchies returning, it seems food isn’t immune to the wave of nostalgia, and supermarket shelves are now seeing a revival of some truly unforgettable crisp flavours.

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Leading the charge is culinary queen Nigella Lawson, who has proudly declared herself a fan of these retro snacks.

The TV chef is thrilled to see the return of 90s classics like Frazzles and Skips.

She even admitted her crisp collection is far from small, saying: “As my crisp cauldron will testify, I have in store many of the flavours mentioned in Ocado’s list – they are the perfect accompaniment to an evening aperitivo or to snack on during essential TV viewing.”

It's not just Nigella who's buzzing about these retro snacks, though. Ocado.com, one of the UK's largest online supermarkets, has reported a massive surge in demand for these old-school crisps.

Frazzles, those bacon-flavoured beauties that were the pride of many a 90s lunchbox, have seen a staggering 48% increase in sales.

Prawn Cocktail Skips, which dissolved on your tongue in a puff of shrimp-flavoured nostalgia, are up 47%, while the timeless Salt & Vinegar Chipsticks have seen a 42% jump.

Nathan Hawker, Ocado's crisp expert, puts the trend down to a combination of social media-driven nostalgia and the practicality of multipack purchases.

“Sometimes however, only the familiar flavours, value and practicality of the humble retro multipack will do,” he says, pointing out that multipacks have risen 20% in sales over the last year.

Millennials, now shopping for their own families, are rediscovering these crunchy treasures they loved as kids, and sharing the excitement with their children.

And it’s not just about the classic crisps. The nostalgia boom has also brought us some new flavours. Remember Pom-Bears?

Those adorable bear-shaped snacks are now available in Cheese and BBQ options, alongside their Ready Salted and Salt & Vinegar staples.

KP Snacks launched these new flavours to satisfy our insatiable appetite for all things retro, and you can pick them up at most major supermarkets.

Of course, no crisp comeback would be complete without a bold move from Walkers.

In a collaboration with Heinz, Walkers introduced three limited-edition sandwich-flavoured crisps, designed to elevate our lunch breaks to new heights.

Roast Chicken and Heinz Mayo, Sausage Sarnie with Heinz Ketchup, and Cheese Toastie with Heinz Beanz are the bizarre yet brilliant creations that Walkers claims will ‘level up’ your lunch.

Available in both grab bags and multipacks, these strange but intriguing flavours are capturing the attention of crisp fans across the UK.

But be quick – they’re only around for a limited time, so you’ll need to act fast if you want to get your hands on these lunchtime wonders.

But that’s not all Walkers has been up to. The crisp giant also made a nostalgic nod to their barbecue crisps from the 90s.

A huge fan favourite, BBQ crisps were heartbreakingly discontinued years ago, but after a brief comeback in 2023, they vanished once again.

Fans have been begging Walkers to bring back the smoky flavour ever since.

Some even took to Reddit to voice their desperation, with one user dramatically proclaiming: “Feel like pure s**t just want BBQ Walkers back.”

While the original BBQ flavour hasn’t officially returned, Walkers has introduced a new flavour that just might scratch the itch for those die-hard BBQ lovers.

Smokin’ BBQ Sauce crisps, sold in sleek black packets, are now available in Tesco stores nationwide. It may not be the exact same as the 90s version, but for many fans, it’s close enough to satisfy that BBQ craving.

And if you're still on the hunt for more classic crisps, brace yourself for some sad news. Walkers recently confirmed that some of our favourite flavours are gone for good.

Sizzling Steak Wotsits, which many fans argue were far superior to the original cheesy version, were heartbreakingly axed in 2023.

Despite public outcry, the meaty crisps were no match for sales demands.

Another gut-wrenching loss came with the demise of Worcester Sauce crisps, which Walkers also discontinued last year.

Fans, many of whom considered the flavour to be ‘god tier’, were understandably distraught.

Salt & Vinegar Quavers, another favourite, briefly returned in 2021 alongside Prawn Cocktail Quavers, but were axed again after just two years.

One of the most significant losses to crisp lovers everywhere is the removal of Beef & Onion crisps from shelves.

Walkers, responding to a heartbroken fan on social media, explained that: “sadly the sales just aren’t there, so we have to make changes to our range.”

It’s not the first time Beef & Onion has faced the axe – it was discontinued in 2015 but later brought back after a passionate campaign by fans.

Unfortunately, it seems the flavour may be gone for good this time.

So whether you’re a Frazzles fanatic or have been quietly pining for BBQ Walkers to make a proper comeback, it’s clear that retro crisps are once again taking the spotlight. And who can blame us?

In a world full of truffle-flavoured posh snacks and vegetable-based crisps, sometimes all we really want is a taste of simpler times.