End of the line for Tomato Snaps

The owners of Walkers have decided to discontinue Smith's Tomato Snaps

Tomato Snaps crisps are to be confined to history.

Walkers has announced it is discontinuing the brand with the final batches available to purchase from wholesalers, shops and online stores for the next few weeks.

The spicy tomato flavoured crisps were designed in the shape of a curled-up rectangle and made at Walkers' factory on Newark Road, Lincoln.

PepsiCo, owners of Walkers, said: "Smith's Tomato Snaps have had a great run and will always hold a special place in our history, but evolving our portfolio allows us to focus on making more of the brands and flavours people love."

A PepsiCo spokesperson added: "We know that fans of Snaps will be sad to see them go, and we'd like to thank them for giving the brand their support over the years."

The Newark Road factory, built in 1937, was originally known as the Smith's Potato Crisp factory and is now largely dedicated to the production of Quavers.

The Lincoln factory produces 500 million packs of the cheese curls every year.

Its demise was met with mixed feelings on the streets of Lincoln.

Alex Ward said the crisps were a favourite snack.

"Me and the wife often go to buy a box full," he said.

"So really, it's quite disappointing to know."

Emma Seddon said she had a craving for the tomato-flavoured snacks when she was pregnant

Garage mechanic Presley Cook said he "wouldn't really miss them".

"I used to have them as a kid, not much anymore," he said.

"I didn't know they really did them."

Emma Seddon said she had a craving for Snaps when pregnant.

"Well, to be fair, I hadn't seen them around," she said.

"I'll still eat them now if I find them."

One woman described the decision to axe the snack as "out of order".

"It's been around since I was a little, tiny girl," Cheryl Smith said.

"That's ridiculous, isn't it?

"There's nothing I can do about it though, is there?"

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