WALKERS has discontinued a popular flavour leaving fans desperately searching the shelves for the axed product.
Max Texan BBQ was launched in partnership with Pizza Hut back in 2023 but it has now made way for the release of new crisp flavours.
The Walkers barbecue flavour was launched two years ago.[/caption]
One disappointed fan wrote on social media site X.com: “Why can’t I find Walkers Max Pizza Hut Texan BBQ Crisps in the supermarket?
“I usually buy a bag each time I shop as they are a favourite in my house. I haven’t seen them for at least 6 weeks.”
But Walkers confirmed the flavour is no longer part of its offering.
The Texan-style crisps had previously earned rave reviews, with one shopper writing on the Asda website: “Ordered for my son but he never got to try them.
“I opened them just to see what they were like and they disappeared within an hour. Great taste, very morish.”
A second wrote: “So tasty, crunchy, just the way a crisp should be.”
A third enthused: “These are my favourite crisps for a long time… got a few bags in for Xmas because they are popular.”
At the same time, another Max flavour produced in collaboration with Pizza Hut – Pepperoni Feast – has also been scrapped.
Walkers has instead released two new limited-edition flavours in partnership with the German Doner Kebab (GDK) company MAX GDK Chicken Kebab and MAX GDK Beef Kebab.
A Walkers spokesperson said: “We recently said goodbye to our two Pizza Hut Walkers MAX Flavours, Texan BBQ and Pepperoni Feast.
“Continuously evolving our portfolio allows us to create more exciting flavours for our crisp fans, like our recently launched limited-edition Walkers MAX German Doner Kebab flavours.”
Walkers Max crisps are intensely flavoured and deep-ridged, with others in the range including Strong Hot Chicken Wings, Spicy Prawn Cocktail, Punchy Paprika and Zingy Salt & Malt Vinegar.
As well as max, the brand offers, baked, snack and sensation ranges of crisps.
In August Walkers sparked excitement with the launch of two new permanent crisp flavours for the first time in decades – Sticky Teriyaki and Masala Chicken.
And in March, the manufacturer brought back its Worcester Sauce flavoured crisps for a limited time, sold exclusively at a convenience store in Worcester where crowds lined the street.
In the summer the snack giant also introduced Red Leicester to its classic Quavers range.
New flavours for fans
It is not only Walkers which is rolling out new flavours for customers to enjoy.
Cadbury has launched two all-new chocolate bars.
Bournville Salted Caramel and Bournville Chopped Hazelnut are now available for fans to enjoy.
Elsewhere, Terry’s Chocolate Orange Milk Ball has now released a Terry’s Chocolate Caramel.
Why are products axed or recipes changed?
ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders.
Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether.
They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers.
There are several reasons why this could be done.
For example, government regulation, like the “sugar tax,” forces firms to change their recipes.
Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.
They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable.
For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018.
It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version.
Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year.
Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks.
While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.
