My raunchy black packet (Walkers Barbecue Crisps)

Member Name: The_Patriarch

Product:	Walkers Barbecue Crisps
Date:	04/11/05 (619 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Delicious . Value for Money . Quick & easy to prepare ! Good for Veggies

Disadvantages: Absolutely none !

"Oh no!" I hear you say, "not another b***dy crisp review" Er..."yes", is the simple answer. The problem is that I like crisps. I like all savoury snacks, and some sweets too, but Savoury Snacks are my "thing". So, today I'm spouting forth my bit of "wisdom" on the king of all crisps: Walkers Barbecue flavour crisps (mmmm..heavenly).

*** Who are Walkers (in case you live on a different planet)? ***

Walkers Snack Foods are Britain's biggest crisp manufacturer who, according to their website, employ 4,000 people in 15 locations. They started from humble beginnings - a man named .... yes you guessed it .... Mr Walker (Henry), who ran a successful butchers business. In 1948, with severe rationing, the company decided to move into the potato crisp market and have never looked back! Since those early days they have expanded and bought out other already successful brands thus enlarging their portfolio to the extent that they now claim "an estimated 11 million people will eat a Walkers product every day"!

*** The Walkers Product portfolio ***

Besides their standard potato crisp range, Walkers Snack Foods also produce:

*Wotsits
*Max
*Lites
*Quavers
*French Fries
*Monster Munch
*Square Crisps
*Salt & Shake
*Dippas
*Doritos
*Doritos Latinos
*Potato Heads
*Sensations

*** So what makes Walkers Crisps so good?***

Obviously it's down to the way they're made. Apparently they select the best potatoes and thoroughly wash them. On arrival at the factory they're checked again for quality and any damaged or inferior potatoes are not used. They are again washed and peeled before being sliced. After the slicing process, they're further washed to remove starch, they are then fried and flavours are then added. More quality checks and then they're weighed before final packaging. Walkers claim that they now blend their vegetable oil with a special sunflower oil "to produce a better crisp" and reduce the levels of saturated fat.

They further claim to take quality very seriously and I have to say I agree as they're without doubt the best crisps I've ever tasted.

*** The Variety ***

Although they bring out special limited flavours from time to time, the current standard range includes Beef & Onion, Cheese & Onion, Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Marmite, Pickled Onion, Prawn Cocktail, Ready Salted, Roast Chicken, Salt & Vinegar, Smokey Bacon, Worcester Sauce and, of course, Barbecue.

*** Barbecue Flavour - Taste & Smell ***

OK. This is what we're here for. These are, in my humble opinion, the most scrumptious crisps in the entire range! Ripping open the pack releases a strong, but pleasant, aroma that might remind you of BBQ sauce or perhaps barbecue spare ribs. It entrances you, trapping you in its intoxicating embrace - demanding your instant and undivided attention. Nothing, but NOTHING can stop you delving into this packet and taking what's rightfully yours! In go your fingers, wriggle about, and pull out those first few crisps in their grasp. Without another thought, the hand has raised the crisps to the mouth as you drool in anticipation of the taste to come. Crrrunch .. Crrunch … Mmmm ....…. crrunch…oooh…ah.. Delicious!! It tastes of…..er…barbecue sauce, surprisingly. A bit raunchy and tangy, but without too much kick. More, more, more! Before you know it, the entire contents have been finished. You're licking your lips, wiping your hands of the flavouring residue and brushing a few crumbs off your shirt. Gorgeous!

*** Nutritional Information ***

Each 34.5g pack contains 181 calories; 11.4g Fat, of which 3.5g is Saturates; 17.3g Carbohydrates (of which 0.7g sugar); 2.2g Protein; 1.4g Dietary Fibre and 0.2g Salt. The main ingredient is potatoes, of course, and this product is suitable for Vegetarians. Interestingly, Walkers are proudly boasting that they have been reducing the levels of saturated fat so that their crisps today contain 30% less than in 2003.

*** Packaging ***

Walkers Crisps are available in pack sizes of 34.5g, 50g and a Family size 175g. In addition you can get multipacks of 6, 12, 18 and 24. It should be noted that the crisp packets in these multipacks are only a measly 25g!
Each flavour has a different colour pack in order to aid recognition. Barbecue flavour come in a lovely little black pack and like all the rest this has the Walkers logo emblazoned across the front. The reverse side of each pack contains all the nutritional info, ingredients, Customer services info and Best before date.

*** Prices & Availability***

Although prices can vary slightly, you should be able to pick up a standard 34.5g pack for about 28p. Having said that, my most recent purchase was from a vending machine which ripped me off for the princely sum of 40p! The 50g "Grab bag" commonly sells between 40p-50p, although I've seen this on South West Trains at an incredible 85p! The multipacks work out cheaper, with the 6 pack at 98p, the 12 pack at £1.68 and the 24 pack at £2.74. You will find these available just about everywhere!


***** Customer Service Information *****

Customer Services can be contacted at the following address:

Consumer Services Department
Walkers Snack Foods Ltd
PO Box 23
Leicester LE4 8ZU

For additional information on all Walkers products, visit their website at:

http://www.walkers.co.uk

***** Final Thoughts *****

Over the years Walkers have made some quite amusing adverts with football legend, Gary Linekar. In fact, 25 different Ads in 10 years! In all those Ads I have only ever seen him eat Barbecue flavour once!! It's an absolute bloody disgrace!

Many thanks for reading. Cheers!

* Note: Previously posted, as user "eldergill" on Ciao - 28th October 2005.

Summary: Delicious value for money savoury snack.