One brand has consistently dominated the crisp aisle is, of course, Walkers. The name is legendary, having launched in 1948 in Leicester. The factory is the largest crisp production plant in the world, producing 11 million bags a day.
But with prices skyrocketing, many are turning to more affordable options, with many supermarket brands costing 50% less than the iconic British brand. Walkers have perfected the art of crisp-making – They’re not too thick or too thin, there’s not too much flavour or too little, and each packet contains a decent amount of crisps. The only downside is the price. Walkers Ready Salted Crisps cost £2.20 for a pack of six, making it one of the priciest options in this selection. However, the good standard of chips has still earned a 9/10. But what are your other options? Angela Patrone taste-tested the eight biggest supermarkets’ value-brand offerings of ready salted crisps to find out which is best.
Morrisons
These crisps were so salty they made me wince. These £1 crisps were also thin and oily. But it seemed like the balance of salt and fat was off with these crisps. Even though they were nearly half the price of Walkers, these weren’t a fantastic substitute. Rating: 3/10
Tesco
In terms of taste, these crisps were rather bland and uninspiring. There’s a hint of salt, but it’s a lacklustre effort from Tesco. The slight positive is the price, as you get six packets for just 85p. Rating: 4/10
Aldi
Although these were among the cheapest crisps, retailing at 85p, they wouldn’t be a great alternative if you’re a fan of the taste and texture of Walkers. Rating: 5/10
Lidl
These crisps were thicker and had a bit more salt than Aldi’s; however, they were slightly oilier. At less than half the price of Walkers, they were a steal – but you might spot the difference in flavour. Rating: 5.5/10
Asda
They don’t look their best, but these £1 crisps had the perfect texture for a crisp. However, they did fall short when it came to taste, as they were rather bland. Rating: 6/10
Sainsbury’s
These Sainsbury’s crisps, which come in at £1, felt thinner than Walkers. They had a strong potato taste and were a little too salty. They had a good quantity in them and still packed a punch – a solid alternative to the branded product, especially considering they were 54% cheaper. Rating: 7/10
Marks and Spencer
While all the other brands bore a resemblance to Walkers, this six-pack and the individual bags stood out. Once opened, the crisps also looked different. The crisps were lighter in colour and very crunchy. While I could detect the salt, it wasn’t particularly tasty. Rating: 7.5/10
Waitrose
The crisps were nicely shaped and rounded, and they were a decent size as well. They were also thick and had just the right amount of crunch. In terms of flavour, these hit the nail on the head. Not too salty, extremely fresh and boasted a superb taste that I preferred to Walkers. Rating: 10/10