Walkers Sensations has expanded its Thai Sweet Chilli range with two new texture variants: Poppadoms and Wavy Cut crisps, which hit shelves on July 14. However, early reviews are mixed, with one food influencer calling the poppadom version 'very plain'.
New Variants and Pricing
The Thai Sweet Chilli Poppadoms are made with potato and gram flour (from milled chickpeas), while the Wavy Cut offers a crunchier texture. A 140g bag of Wavy Cut costs £1.65 at Home Bargains, and an 82.5g bag of Poppadoms is £1.75 on offer at Tesco. Both are expected to retail at £2.50 in major supermarkets.
Food Influencer Review
Foodie influencer @johns_snackreviews tested both. He gave the Wavy Cut a 7/10, noting it 'seems Walkers max strong, just slightly crunchier'. The Poppadoms scored only 5/10; he described them as 'very plain, almost Chinese poppadom texture' with a flavour that 'was very light [and] didn’t come through very well at all'. He rinsed his mouth between bags and tried again an hour later to confirm. He said he wouldn't buy them again.
Another reviewer disagreed, stating the Poppadoms are 'full of flavour, quite spicy really' and would be 'banging' with curry and rice.
Company Statement
Wayne Newton, senior marketing director at PepsiCo, said: 'We know that Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli has become a true icon of the premium sharing occasion. This meant that expanding it into our successful Poppadoms range and introducing an all-new Wavy Cut variant was the natural next step in building on this momentum.'
Rebranded Packaging
The snacks also debut a refreshed Walkers logo, ingredient pictures, and a new swoosh design. Newton added: 'Combined with our bold new packaging design, these launches mark an exciting new chapter for Sensations. The result is a modern, premium look that delivers even greater shelf standout.' The rebranded packaging starts with these Thai Sweet Chilli launches, with the rest of the Sensations range updated by end of 2026.
Previous Recipe Controversy
The new launches follow a 2023 recipe change for Thai Sweet Chilli Sensations that drew backlash. One fan tweeted: 'Why in God’s name has the recipe for Thai Sweet Chilli sensations been changed?! You had already created perfection in crisp form.' Walkers acknowledged the change but the flavour remains popular.
