Cheese and onion is one of the nation’s most loved crisp flavours, and for many households Walkers is the go-to brand. But with supermarket own-label versions costing a fraction of the price, it’s fair to wonder whether the famous name is worth paying extra for. A side-by-side taste test by the Daily Express put Walkers up against cheese and onion crisps from Aldi and Lidl, and the result might make you think twice next time you’re in the snack aisle.
A British favourite goes head-to-head.
Walkers has been around since the 1940s and has grown into the best-known crisp brand in the country. Over the decades, it has launched all sorts of flavours, from the traditional to the more adventurous. Even so, cheese and onion remains one of its most iconic choices and a lunchbox staple for generations.
Aldi and Lidl, meanwhile, are known as the UK’s two cheapest supermarkets. Both sell their own versions of popular snacks at much lower prices than branded products. That made them the obvious rivals to see whether saving money means sacrificing flavour.
How the three packs were judged
To keep things fair, the test compared multipacks containing six bags each. Single grab bags weren’t available at Aldi or Lidl, so multipacks offered the closest like-for-like comparison. Each one was tried and scored based on how enjoyable it was overall.
Taste was the main focus, as a crisp that doesn’t deliver on flavour is always going to disappoint. Texture counted too, since nobody wants something too soft or so hard it’s unpleasant to eat. Price was then weighed up against both to decide which offered the best value.
Aldi misses the mark this time.
Aldi’s Snackrite Cheese & Onion crisps cost 85p for a pack of six. The discount chain has done very well in plenty of other comparisons, so hopes were high. Unfortunately, these didn’t live up to expectations and finished in third place.
The crisps were rather delicate and broke easily, which took away from the satisfying crunch you’d hope for. They also lacked the punchy flavour of the other two. While the price is hard to argue with, they weren’t tasty enough to earn a spot in the trolley again.
Walkers shows why it’s so popular.
Walkers came second, with a six-pack of 25g bags costing £2.35 at Tesco. That’s well over double the price of the supermarket options. However, the step up in quality from Aldi was obvious from the very first bite.
The crisps had a firm texture that was still easy to crunch through, along with a nicely balanced cheese and onion taste. Neither flavour overwhelmed the other, which is exactly what most fans want. There’s a reason the brand has stayed so popular for so long, as you know what you’re getting every time.
Lidl takes the crown.
The clear winner was Lidl’s Snack Day Cheese and Onion crisps, which also cost 85p for six bags. They stood out straight away for having the strongest cheesy flavour of the three. Despite that, the taste never became too much or left an unpleasant aftertaste.
The crisps were thin but still had a lovely crunch, and that thinness seemed to let the seasoning shine through even more. It’s unusual for the cheapest option to beat a big brand on both taste and texture. At such a low price, they’re something of a bargain for anyone stocking up on snacks.
Working out the cost per bag
Breaking the prices down shows just how big the gap is. At 85p for six, the Lidl and Aldi packs work out at roughly 14p per bag. The Walkers multipack, on the other hand, comes to around 39p for each one.
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For a family getting through a multipack or two every week, that difference soon mounts up. Switching to an own-label option could save well over £1 per pack, which adds up to a decent sum over a year. When the cheaper choice also tastes better, it’s an easy swap to make.
Running your own taste test at home
Everyone’s taste buds are different, so the best way to find a favourite is to try a few yourself. Pick up a multipack of the branded crisps alongside one or two supermarket versions, then tip each into a separate bowl without letting anyone see the packets. Ask the family to score them on flavour and crunch, then reveal which was which.
It’s a fun activity that can also help cut the cost of your weekly shop. Bear in mind that prices change often and can vary between stores, so check before you buy. If the own-label option comes out on top in your house too, you’ll know exactly where to save a little money without missing out.
