Skips shouldn't really belong on a sweets website at all — they're a savoury, prawn-cocktail-flavoured puffed corn snack — and yet no proper British pick 'n' mix counter has ever felt complete without a tub of them sitting next to the cola bottles and flying saucers.
A very British flavour choice
Skips launched in 1972, built around a puffed corn base that dissolves almost instantly on the tongue — closer to a crisp version of candy floss than a typical crisp. Their signature Prawn Cocktail flavour leaned into a very British retro taste that was everywhere in the 1970s, from crisps to sauces, and Skips is one of the few products to keep that flavour front and centre ever since.
From Smiths to KP Snacks
The brand has passed through several corporate hands since launch, originally coming from Smiths Crisps before eventually landing with KP Snacks, which produces Skips today. Despite the ownership changes, the recipe and the Prawn Cocktail flavour have stayed recognisably the same across five decades.
Why sweet shops stock them anyway
Skips' light, quick-dissolving texture and nostalgic flavour made them a natural fit for pick 'n' mix counters and retro sweets displays, even though they're technically a savoury snack rather than confectionery. That crossover appeal is a big part of why Skips has outlasted plenty of savoury snacks that stuck strictly to the crisp aisle.
Frequently asked questions
What are Skips made from?
Skips are a puffed corn snack, most famous in their Prawn Cocktail flavour, launched in the UK in 1972.
Who makes Skips?
Skips are made today by KP Snacks, after passing through several changes of ownership from the original Smiths Crisps brand.
Why are Skips sold in sweet shops if they're savoury?
Skips became a pick 'n' mix and sweet shop staple alongside confectionery because of their light, melt-in-the-mouth texture and nostalgic flavour, making them a natural companion to sweets rather than a typical crisp.