Walkers BBQ rib: Why and when was the crisps discontinued?

WALKERS Crisps have been a firm favourite in Britain, long before former footballer Gary Lineker was known for his obsession with the snacks.

However, fans of the original BBQ Ribs flavoured crisps have been calling for its comeback, after it was discontinued many years ago.

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What were Walkers BBQ rib crisps? 

Walkers BBQ Ribs crisps was considered one of the flavours of the decades.

The beefy rich smell wafted from the crisp packet as soon as you opened them.

And its perfect blend of spices, including paprika, along with its smoky zing, made it a firm favourite on the playground.

The Leicester snack manufacturer actually revived several types for its 70th anniversary, including coronation chicken (1950s), roast lamb and mint (1960s), cheese fondue (1970s), chicken tikka masala (1980s), BBQ ribs (1990s) and sweet chilli (2000s).

In December 2023, packets of limited-edition BBQ Pork Ribs were spotted in the aisles of a B&M, much to the dismay of consumers who called for the return of the original.

When and why were Walkers BBQ rib crisps discontinued?

For reasons unknown, Walkers quietly phased out the flavour some years ago.

Despite its revival as part of the Walkers Flavours of the Decades collection, it somehow failed to recapture its original appeal.

It hasn’t stopped fans from calling for its return via online petitions.

At least 100 people signed the BBQ Rib petition set up by Joe Hall, in which he laid out his passionate plea for the return of the flavour, saying: “BBQ Rib is a true British classic – the crisps we were raised on.”

The company, which was founded in 1948 by Englishman Henry Walker, has seen profits remain more or less flat.

The PepsiCo-owned company, however, is setting its sights on expanding its operations to meet the growing demand for Wotsits Giants and Monster Munch Giants, which are currently manufactured in Europe.

As part of this strategy, the company is upgrading production facilities at its main UK factory site in Beaumont Leys with a £58 million investment.

Jason Richards, the senior vice president and general manager at PepsiCo UK and Ireland, stated: “In 2023 we’re celebrating 75 years of Walkers crisps, so there’s no better time to renew our commitment to Leicester – a city and community that have been crucial to our success in the UK.”

Their shifting focus towards green energy production and expansion in other sectors might have swayed their attention from producing these cherished snacks.

Sadly, at the beginning of 2024, the crisps brand added its Marmite flavour to the list of discontinued products.

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A Walkers spokesperson told The Sun: “We are very sorry to disappoint fans of Marmite flavour Walkers crisps with this news.

“We know many crisp lovers will hate to see this Walkers’ flavour go.

“This change will enable us to focus our efforts on making more of the flavours crisp fans love the most.”

It was the fifth crisp flavour Walkers had stopped producing in three months alongside its Worcestershire Sauce, Beef and Onion, and its Sensations Regal Lamb and Mint crisps.

What is similar to Walkers BBQ rib crisps?

The obvious option is Walkers’ new limited-edition BBQ Pork Ribs flavour, which unlike its name, is actually vegan. 

The company says it guarantees a fresh taste without any added MSG, artificial colours or preservatives.

This is part of their new Unbelievable Vegan crisps range, which offer a selection of meat and cheese flavours that are surprisingly vegan.

While it doesn’t necessarily have the same crunch, Hula Hoops Big Hoops BBQ Beef is a reasonable alternative.

Lays BBQ Ribs Crisps offer a similar burst of rich, tangy sweetness, now available to UK consumers.

If you don’t mind ridges, McCoy’s Bangin’ BBQ Potato Crisps may be another option if you’re reminiscing about Walkers.

And once you pop, you can’t usually stop with Pringles Hot Smokin’ BBQ Ribs. 

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk