Skips (snack)

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Skips
Product typeTapioca (UK) and Maize (ROI)
OwnerKP Snacks and Tayto (Republic of Ireland)
CountryUnited Kingdom
Introduced1974
MarketsUnited Kingdom, Ireland
Websitewww.kpsnacks.com/our-brands/

Skips are a snack from the United Kingdom and Ireland which were first launched in 1974 in prawn cocktail flavour.

Skips are similar to Chinese prawn crackers, although they are smaller and have a finer texture that makes them fizz and melt on the tongue.[1][2] The snacks are made by KP Snacks under licence of the German snack food company Intersnack.[3] In the United Kingdom, they are made with tapioca starch and in Ireland with maize starch. Packets of Skips often have jokes or tongue twisters written on the back, which are aimed at children. Other flavours, such as pickled onion, Caribbean Spice curry (teal blue bag), Hot from Rio chilli (orange bag), Chinese spare rib (purple bag), a limited edition ReBoot Dots Doughnut (pink bag) and a ReBoot pizza flavour, Sweetcorn Relish (1985,[4] yellow bag)[5] and Sweet'n'Sour [6] have been available in the past. In 2002, KP launched two new variations of Skips intended to offer a 'unique taste sensation'. Buzz Boltz featured a 'crunch-melt' experience and Tickle Pickle delivered a 'puff-melt' sensation.[7] Both have since been discontinued.

Since early 2006, Skips have seen a 30% reduction in saturated fat and a 10% reduction in sodium and are made with 100% sunflower oil. Skips contain no artificial colours or flavourings.[8][9]

In 2012, the brand and KP Snacks was sold by United Biscuits to German company Intersnack.[10]

In the Republic of Ireland, Skips are sold under the Tayto brand, which is also owned by Intersnack.[11]

Sponsorship and TV adverts[edit]

The children's theme has been extended in previous years with the sponsorship of Dragon's Fury, a popular attraction at Chessington World Of Adventures.[12]

Ex-EastEnders actress Daniela Denby-Ashe, who played Sarah Hills in the show and Janey Harper in My Family, appeared in a Skips advert as a teenager.[13] Also in the 1980s, wrestler Giant Haystacks appeared in a TV advert for Skips, with the closing line "Dainty aren't they?".

Action Biker, a mid-1980s budget computer game from Mastertronic, featured the Clumsy Colin character from the then-current Skips adverts, as well as KP Skips branding on the case artwork.[14]

Actor Craig Charles voiced a series of ads as an anthropomorphic tongue, meant to be the viewer's. The ads aired with the closing line "Stick a Skip on your tongue; it asked for it!"

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Skips". United ~Biscuits. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  2. ^ "ALDI - Skips Salt & Vinegar". Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  3. ^ Company, Diamond Lead (1983). "Diamond's Economic Journal Industria, Volume 13". Diamond's Economic Journal Industria. 13: 26 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ KP Foods Ltd (July 1985). "Catch a free packet of KP Skips". Smash Hits. 30: 64 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ "Did Skips ever come in a Sweetcorn & Relish flavour?". Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  6. ^ "A Brief History of Crisps: do us a flavour - Saga". www.saga.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  7. ^ "KP puts £4m into 'taste sensation' Skips products". www.campaignlive.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  8. ^ "UBUK reveals portfolio overhaul for 2006". Talking Retail. 21 December 2005. Archived from the original on 19 August 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Skips Prawn Cocktail 6x13.1g". www.sainsburys.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  10. ^ "KP Nuts sold to German company". 5 December 2012. Archived from the original on 19 August 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Tayto Snack Brands". www.taytosnacks.ie. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Here Comes The Fury: A Trip Report". Theme Park Insider. Archived from the original on 10 April 2006. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  13. ^ McVities Skips Crisps Advert Rugrats 1996, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 19 August 2019
  14. ^ "Action Biker (Action)". ataricave.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
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