{{Short description|British crisp brand}} {{about|the snack food|the type of musical note|quaver|the song|Quavers (song)}} {{Infobox brand | logo = | name = Quavers | image =Cheese Quavers.jpg | caption =Cheese flavour Quavers | producttype = Cheese curls | currentowner = Walkers | origin = United Kingdom | introduced = {{start date and age|1968|||df=y}} | discontinued = | related = | markets = United Kingdom, Ireland | previousowners = Smiths | trademarkregistrations = | ambassadors = | tagline = | website = }}
'''Quavers''' are a British deep-fried potato-based snack food produced by Walkers, originally launched by Smiths in 1968. The name comes from the musical note called a quaver, as both the note and the crisp have a curly shape.
==History== Quavers were originally made by Smiths in their factory on Newark Road in the Bracebridge area of Lincoln in 1968. It launched with the advertising slogan "you get a lovely lot of Quavers in a bag", described as "curly potato puffs".<ref>Opie, Robert ''The 1970s Scrapbook''</ref> The brand was originally sold in cheese and smoky bacon flavours, but over the years flavours like Spicy Beef, Sweet and Sour, Prawn Cocktail, and Ketchup were also part of the range.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}
The packaging brand name had changed from Smiths to Walkers in 1993.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 January 1993 |title=" |work=Lincolnshire Echo |pages=1 |quote=Quavers’ packets will soon lose their Smiths’ logo}}</ref> The same year, a Salt and Vinegar flavour was added to the range.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 February 1993 |title=IT'S ANOTHER GREAT MERCURY GIVEAWAY |work=Leicester Daily Mercury |pages=10 |quote=Free packet of Quavers! QUIVERING Quavers! Have we got an offer for you. Your value-for-money Leicester Mercury has teamed up with Quavers to bring you a free packet of their exciting new flavour Salt and Vinegar}}</ref>
In March 1996, Walkers relaunched Quavers with a new look and advertising campaign produced by Aardman Animations, featuring new mascot Quentin Quaverhead and his family, who represent the "lightness" of the product. The relaunch also tied in with the launch of a new flavour, Tangy Tomato.<ref>https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/week-quavers-budget-hike/61005</ref>
In 1997, the brand was part of Walkers' short-lived "Snackshack" range.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 October 1997 |title=" |work=Derby Daily Telegraph |pages=19 |quote=The promotions which feature on Walkers Crisps, Doritos, and Snackshack packs (Quavers, French Fries and Monster Munch) started on September 22 for eight weeks}}</ref> and the product was relaunched with slightly updated packaging in 1998 during Walkers' branding refresh, alongside the reintroduction of the Prawn Cocktail flavour with a new recipe.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} In 1999, the brand was relaunched with a new logo and a new recipe for the Cheese flavour.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} Another branding refresh occurred in 2000.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}
In August 2002, a "Streaky Bacon" flavour was added to the range, which contained pink and brown pieces, that resembled bacon.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/quavers-rasher-behaviour/78716.article |title=Quavers' rasher behaviour}}</ref> In September 2004, Ghost-shaped Cheese Quavers were released for Halloween, and returned in September 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketingweek.com/walkers-snacks-launches-halloween-quavers/|title=Walkers Snacks launches Hallowe'en Quavers|date=18 March 2004}}</ref>
In February 2007, Walkers changed the packaging for Quavers, Wotsits, Squares, French Fries and Monster Munch. This packaging reflected the usage of sunseed oil, which was used in all products. The Multipack bags were in a different layout, being in landscape orientation. Quavers' logo was changed slightly, and the flavours remained the same.<ref name=walkers>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pepsico.co.uk/walkers-crisps|title=Walkers|publisher=PepsiCo UK|access-date=2011-03-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722191351/http://www.pepsico.co.uk/walkers-crisps|archive-date=2011-07-22|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In December 2009, Quavers, Wotsits, Squares, and French Fries all changed their packaging again to coincide with a "99 Calories or Less" range with a consumers' focus on "New Year New Me".<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.potatopro.com/news/2009/walkers-launches-99-calories-or-less-banner|title = Walkers launches '99 Calories or less' banner|date = 5 December 2013|access-date = 4 February 2021|archive-date = 18 February 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220218144813/https://www.potatopro.com/news/2009/walkers-launches-99-calories-or-less-banner|url-status = live}}</ref>
By 2012, the prawn cocktail and salt and vinegar flavours were discontinued.<ref name="walkers" /> These were discontinued in 2012. Ketchup and sweet and sour flavours were also introduced, but for a limited time only and are no longer available.
In December 2020, Walkers announced that the Prawn Cocktail and Salt and Vinegar flavours would return to shelves in February 2021 due to popular demand.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Shaw |first=Neil |date=2020-12-23 |title=Quavers proves 2021 will be better by bringing back flavours |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/quavers-proves-2021-better-bringing-19510155 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=Wales Online |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Barratt |first=Becky |date=2021-01-27 |title=OMG Salt & Vinegar & Prawn Cocktail Quavers Are Making A Comeback In 2021! |url=https://www.playpennies.com/supermarket/omg-salt-vinegar-prawn-cocktail-quavers-are-making-a-comeback-in-2021-187156 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=Playpennies |language=en}}</ref>
In March 2023, the brand was given a packaging refresh and the introduction of a BBQ Sauce flavour.<ref>https://www.betterretailing.com/quavers-launches-bbq-sauce-variety-alongside-new-design/</ref> In July 2025, a Red Leicester flavour was introduced.<ref>https://www.talkingretail.com/products-news/crisps-snacks/quavers-presents-new-red-leicester-flavour-07-07-2025/</ref>
== Description == The primary ingredient in Quavers is potato starch. They are deep fried to give a snack with a similar texture to krupuk (prawn crackers), but have a different flavour and are smaller with a curled-up rectangle shape (similar in cross-section to a quaver).{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}
A one pack (16.4 g) serving of regular Quavers contains 88 calories, of which 44 are from fat. Quavers contain a mixture of fats (4.9g): saturated fat 0.4g, polyunsaturated fat 0.6g and monounsaturated fat 3.8g. The sodium content is 170 mg. Quavers have 86 calories in their Cheese flavour and 83 in the salt and vinegar variety.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}
==Varieties== ===Current=== * Cheese * BBQ Sauce * Red Leicester
===Former=== * Bacon * Cheese and Onion * Chinese Spicy Beef * Ketchup * Prawn cocktail * Salt and Vinegar * Sweet and Sour
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite web |title=Walkers Quavers Cheese Flavor |url=https://www.worldofsnacks.com/blog/walkers-quavers-cheese-flavor |website=World of Snacks }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20190714224224/http://picdeer.com/media/1482923460095023874_233544781 ''Quavers'' packaging, from 1995 with Walkers logo]
{{PepsiCo}}
Category:British snack foods Category:The Smith's Snackfood Company brands Category:Walkers (snack foods) brands Category:Potato dishes Category:Deep fried foods Category:Products introduced in 1968