Skips (snack) facts for kids
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| Type | Tapioca (UK) and Maize (ROI) |
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| Owner | KP Snacks and Tayto (Republic of Ireland) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Introduced | 1974 |
| Markets | United Kingdom, Ireland |
Skips are a popular snack enjoyed in the United Kingdom and Ireland. They first appeared in 1974, starting with a tasty prawn cocktail flavour.
These snacks are a bit like Indonesian prawn crackers. However, Skips are smaller and have a special texture. This texture makes them fizz and melt right on your tongue! KP Snacks makes Skips, working with a German company called Intersnack.
In the United Kingdom, Skips are made from tapioca starch. But in Ireland, they use maize starch instead. Skips packets often have fun jokes or tongue twisters on the back. These are usually made for children to enjoy.
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Skips Flavours Through the Years
Over time, many different Skips flavours have been available. Some past flavours include pickled onion, Caribbean Spice curry, and Hot from Rio chilli. There were also Chinese spare rib, Sweetcorn Relish, and Sweet'n'Sour.
In 2002, KP Snacks launched two new types of Skips. These were called Buzz Boltz and Tickle Pickle. Buzz Boltz offered a "crunch-melt" feeling. Tickle Pickle gave a "puff-melt" feeling. Both of these special versions are no longer sold.
Healthier Skips
Since early 2006, Skips have become a bit healthier. They now have 30% less saturated fat. They also have 10% less sodium, which is a type of salt. Skips are now made with 100% sunflower oil. This means they do not contain any artificial colours or flavourings.
Who Owns Skips?
In 2012, the Skips brand and KP Snacks were sold. They were bought by the German company Intersnack from United Biscuits. In the Republic of Ireland, Skips are sold under the Tayto brand. Tayto is also owned by Intersnack.
Skips in the Spotlight
Skips has often connected with children's entertainment. They have sponsored fun attractions and appeared in TV adverts.
Fun Sponsorships
In past years, Skips sponsored Dragon's Fury. This is a popular roller coaster ride at Chessington World Of Adventures. It shows how Skips likes to be part of exciting things for kids.
Skips on TV
Several famous people have appeared in Skips TV adverts. An actress named Daniela Denby-Ashe was in a Skips advert when she was a teenager. In the 1980s, a wrestler called Giant Haystacks also appeared in a Skips TV advert. He famously said, "Dainty aren't they?" at the end.
Skips in Games
Skips even appeared in a computer game! A game from the mid-1980s called Action Biker featured a character named Clumsy Colin. This character was from the Skips adverts at the time. The game's artwork also showed KP Skips branding.
More recently, actor Craig Charles lent his voice to a series of Skips adverts. He voiced an animated tongue, which was meant to be the viewer's tongue. These adverts ended with the catchy line, "Stick a Skip on your tongue; it asked for it!"
See also
