Would You Try Smoky Spider-Flavored Monster Munch?
Imagine snacking on Monster Munch with a smoky spider flavor, or perhaps enjoying crisps inspired by Bovril to mark the release of “Back to the Future.” Then, consider hedgehog-flavored crisps and a Wallace and Gromit-themed corn snack that aims to mimic the taste of moon cheese, a nod to their lunar adventure in “A Grand Day Out.”
A Colorful Journey Through Crisp Packet Design
These unique and intriguing flavors are part of the celebration in “UK Crisp Packets 1970-2000,” a detailed 140-page book that explores the vibrant and sometimes bizarre world of crisp packet designs over three decades. This book is a treasure trove of nostalgia, packed with childhood staples such as Chipsticks, Frazzles, and Snaps, as well as some lesser-known and rare finds.
From Dennis the Menace bacon and baked bean flavor to Golden Wonder’s roast turkey and stuffing and Sonic the Hedgehog’s salt and vinegar, the variety is astounding. The collection includes regional brands that have long disappeared from Penryn, Blackpool, and Wigan, alongside numerous special editions linked to TV shows and movies like the Spice Girls, Thunderbirds, Zig and Zag, Dr. Who, The Mask, and Jurassic Park.
The creator of this nostalgic collection is Chris Packet, a 43-year-old artist who has curated a vast and eclectic archive. The designs range from simple and straightforward to inspired and outright peculiar. Notable entries include a cheese and onion packet adorned with the Union Jack to celebrate the 1981 royal wedding and cheeky comic strips on packets that hark back to risqué seaside postcards. Beryl the Peril from The Dandy graces a sausage and tomato flavor.
What also stands out is the diversity in the styles of lettering, illustrations, and cartoons, all of which are playful and sometimes quite stylish. An early packet of Discos, with its wavy lines and 3D lettering, could easily be mistaken for a record sleeve. The Odduns, a cheeseburger flavored snack, features a complex, geometrically impossible triangular design reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s iconic “Dark Side of the Moon” album cover.
The Discovery of a Unique Collection
Chris Packet’s journey with this collection began in 2018 during an exploration of a disused train tunnel in London, known for its 90s rave history. Amidst the old rave graffiti, Packet’s attention was captured by a discarded crisp packet on the ground. Despite the years of dirt, the vivid colors and a sci-fi themed design featuring an alien shooting a laser gun were still discernible. It was an old pickled onion Space Raiders packet, still marked at 10p, surprisingly well-preserved due to the sheltered environment of the tunnel.
As he continued his search, he found more packets, including a classic Smiths Salt’n’Shake bag, tomato-flavored Quavers from 1996, and a Monster Munch packet dated back to July 1989. Each packet brought back vivid childhood memories and made Packet realize these were not just trash, but unique pieces of history, showcasing impressive graphic designs.
Now based in Athens, Packet has expanded his collection through online purchases and the help of friends. One remarkable find was a crisp packet in a Second World War bunker in Dover, untouched since the 1980s.
Packet’s interest primarily lies in the artwork. “Coming from a background in graffiti and art, the designs captivate me—the lettering, illustrations, and cartoon characters,” he explains. He notes a stark difference in the design quality of the original packets compared to modern ones, lamenting the loss of artistry with the advent of computer-aided design techniques.
A Cultural Snapshot in Crisp Packets
The book, “UK Crisp Packets 1970-2000,” aims to memorialize what Packet considers a golden era of crisp packet design. The foreword by Annebella Pollen, a professor of visual and material culture, describes these crisp packets as “cultural detritus” that offer an alternative historical narrative. Pollen discusses themes such as gender representation and the impact of the disappearance of regional independent brands. She also touches on the shift in marketing crisps from bar snacks to children’s lunchboxes as part of a broader cultural move.
Pollen believes that crisp nostalgia resonates deeply due to its connection to moments of autonomy in childhood—choices made in selecting snacks for a lunchbox or spending pocket money at a tuck shop. These packets may now be empty, but they are filled with layers of memories.
The book, “UK Crisp Packets 1970-2000,” is published by Sports Banger and can be found under the handle @chris___packet.
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Fatima Clarke is a seasoned health reporter who bridges medical science with human stories. She writes with compassion, precision, and a drive to inform.
