About Walkers
Walkers holds the distinguished position as Britain's largest and most popular crisp manufacturer, commanding over 25% of the UK potato crisp market and producing an astonishing 11 million bags daily at its Leicester factory, the largest crisp production plant in the world. Founded in 1948 by Henry Walker, a butcher who turned to frying potatoes when post-war rationing made meat scarce, Walkers has grown from a local Leicester enterprise into a national institution synonymous with British snacking. The company's origins trace back to Henry Walker, a successful butcher from Mansfield who relocated to Leicester in the 1880s. When meat became difficult to source after World War II, Walker began frying potato slices in a fish fryer in 1948, selling his first crisps sprinkled with salt for threepence a bag. The business changed hands several times before PepsiCo acquired Walkers in 1989 for approximately £900 million, making PepsiCo Europe's largest snack producer. Today, Walkers operates as PepsiCo's snack company in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Walkers product range centres on its classic crisps in beloved British flavours. Ready Salted has been available since the 1948 founding. Cheese and Onion, inspired by the Ploughman's lunch and now the brand's most popular flavour, was introduced in 1954 as one of the first flavoured crisps. Salt and Vinegar, inspired by fish and chips, followed in 1967. The Classic Variety multipack includes these favourites plus Prawn Cocktail. Beyond traditional crisps, Walkers produces Quavers, Sensations, Wotsits, Monster Munch, and Doritos. The Baked range offers 50% less fat, while the 2022 launch delivered crisps with 45% less salt. While many Walkers flavours are vegetarian-friendly, the brand launched its dedicated vegan range called "Unbelievable!" for Veganuary 2024. This includes Grilled Cheese Toastie, Vegan BBQ Pork Ribs, and Vegan Flame Grilled Steak flavours, allowing vegans to enjoy meaty and cheesy crisp flavours without animal products. However, classic Cheese & Onion contains milk and is not vegan. Importantly, Walkers cannot guarantee any products are gluten-free due to cross-contamination risks in manufacturing, even though many contain no gluten ingredients. Gary Lineker, the Leicester-born former England international footballer, has been the face of Walkers since 1995, appearing in countless memorable advertising campaigns. This long-running partnership has become one of British advertising's most successful celebrity endorsements, perfectly connecting the Leicester-headquartered brand with its local footballing hero. Walkers has demonstrated strong commitment to sustainability. The brand has launched TerraCycle recycling partnerships for crisp packets, which are notoriously difficult to recycle through standard systems. Their circular potatoes scheme works with farmers to reduce environmental impact throughout the supply chain. All Walkers crisps are made with 100% Great British Potatoes and contain no added MSG, artificial colours, or preservatives. Walkers multipacks are competitively priced across UK supermarkets. At Tesco, Classic Variety 6-packs retail around £2.15 with Clubcard prices dropping to £1.40. Sainsbury's offers Nectar price discounts on multipacks with recommended retail prices around £2 for 6-packs. Larger 12 and 20-pack multipacks offer better per-bag value. Limited edition seasonal flavours like Beef Wellington appear during Christmas. For British crisp lovers, Walkers remains the definitive choice, combining over 75 years of heritage with continued innovation. Using Grocefully to compare Walkers prices across supermarkets ensures you find the best deals on these quintessentially British snacks.