About Chipsticks
Chipsticks are an iconic British snack launched in 1971 by Smith's, the legendary crisp company that Frank Smith founded in a Cricklewood garage in 1920. These extruded corn starch snacks shaped like french fries became one of Britain's most beloved savoury treats during the golden age of crisp innovation in the 1970s, when Smith's was busy creating "proper bangers" to compete with rising rivals like Golden Wonder. The Chipsticks brand emerged during a creative period for Smith's, when the company embraced playful marketing that riffed on saucy seaside postcard humour. The distinctive french fry shape set them apart from traditional crisps, while the intense salt and vinegar flavouring - a taste pioneered nationally by Smith's in 1967 - made them immediately addictive. Ready salted Chipsticks soon followed, offering a milder alternative for those who preferred their snacks less tangy. Smith's remarkable history stretches back over a century, with the company producing 90% of Britain's crisps by 1934 and becoming a staple in every soldier's ration bag during World War II. By 1949, nearly every pub in Britain stocked Smith's products. The company passed through Nabisco ownership before joining PepsiCo in 1989, where it became part of the Walkers family. Today, Chipsticks remain one of the few products still carrying the Smith's name alongside Frazzles and the Savoury Selection range. Available in multipacks and sharing bags at UK supermarkets including Tesco and Morrisons, Chipsticks continue to satisfy generations of British snack lovers who grew up with their distinctive crunch and bold flavours. Their nostalgic appeal and unique texture ensure they remain a beloved fixture in the British snacking landscape.