A perfectly seasoned salted crisp is an unbeatable snack, whether at lunchtime, on a picnic, or at a buffet. With so many options available, especially from premium brands like Kettle and Tyrrells, it’s easy to assume they offer the best experience.
Major UK supermarkets also stock their own premium crisp ranges, often in large bags designed for sharing. They come in a wide variety of flavours, but sometimes nothing beats the simplicity of a classic salted crisp.
Kettle and Tyrrells sit at the pricier end of the crisps market, prompting me to see if supermarket alternatives could hold their own against these established brands.
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My partner and I conducted a blind taste test featuring salted crisps from Lidl, M&S, Asda, Co-op, Tesco, alongside Kettle and Tyrrells. The results surprised us.
Both of us independently picked the same two supermarket crisps as our favorites from the seven tested. Combining our scores, we ranked all crisps from worst to best.
Tesco was the biggest letdown. We couldn’t find Tesco’s standard premium salted crisps, so we substituted their crinkle-cut variant. Because it differed in texture, we excluded it from the texture score. Unfortunately, it also lacked flavour, tasting bland and almost flavorless. This one ranked last by a wide margin, scoring only 1/10.
The Tyrrells crisp, surprisingly, didn’t score as highly as expected. Its saltiness was mild, which might suit some—but for those who want a stronger flavour, it fell short. It received a 3/10.
M&S’s own-brand crisps tasted quite similar to Kettle’s, with a pleasant thickness—although a bit harder than expected. If you want an affordable alternative to Kettle, this is a decent option, rated 5/10.
Lidl’s offering had a satisfying crunch and was saltier than Kettle’s. However, salt wasn’t evenly distributed, leaving some crisps bland. A good shake before opening might improve that. Overall, Lidl scored 6/10.
Kettle’s branded crisps delivered the expected crunch and a good salt level without being greasy. Some chips were thinner than we preferred, but it didn’t detract from the experience. Score: 7/10.
Asda’s premium crisps just missed the top spot, boasting a bold saltiness that might be overpowering for some, but we enjoyed the strong flavour. They scored 9/10.
Co-op’s crisps were our unanimous top pick. They struck the perfect salt balance and had an ideal texture—not too hard or too soft. These crisps genuinely tasted premium and easily rivalled the established brands. For us, Co-op’s salted crisps were the undisputed winners, earning a perfect 10/10.