Discos have been around since 1979 and they have not changed much. Same flat disc shape, same punchy flavours, same three varieties that have been in the range for decades. In a snack market full of reformulations, rebrands, and line extensions, there is something almost stubborn about how consistently Discos have stayed the same. They are made by KP, they come in Cheese and Onion, Salt and Vinegar, and Prawn Cocktail, and they have no artificial colours or flavours. That is the whole story, and it is enough.
Discos are a flat, disc-shaped wheat and potato snack made by KP Snacks, first launched in 1979. The current range covers Cheese and Onion, Salt and Vinegar, and Prawn Cocktail. They are suitable for vegetarians, contain no MSG or artificial colours or flavours, but are not gluten free as they contain wheat starch and wheat flour.
The history of Discos
Launched in 1979
Discos were launched in 1979 by KP Snacks, making them one of the older surviving brands in the KP portfolio. The name and the shape both play on the disc format: a flat, round crisp that looks like a miniature record, which was a relevant cultural reference in 1979 when disco music was at its commercial peak. The name stuck long after the musical genre faded.
KP describes Discos as one of their classic heritage snack brands, which puts them in the same category as Hula Hoops (1973), Space Raiders (1987), and Wheat Crunchies (1987). Heritage brand status at KP essentially means a product that has survived multiple decades without needing a fundamental redesign, which is a harder achievement than it sounds in the snack market.
What makes Discos different from a standard crisp
Discos are not quite a potato crisp in the traditional sense. The base ingredients are wheat starch and dried potato rather than sliced fresh potato, which gives them a different texture to a standard crisp. The wheat starch base creates a lighter, crisper disc that shatters more cleanly when you bite it, and the flat shape means the full surface area of each disc hits your tongue at once rather than curling or folding. The result is a snack with a distinctive texture: clean, sharp crunch, immediate flavour hit.
KP’s own description calls them “the disc that bites the taste buds”, which is a reasonable summary. The flavour punch on Discos is noticeable. Prawn Cocktail in particular has a sharp, tangy kick that puts it a step above most prawn cocktail flavoured snacks. Salt and Vinegar is similarly assertive. These are not background flavours.
The current Discos flavour range
Cheese and Onion
The cheese and onion flavouring uses dried cheese from milk and natural flavourings containing milk, making it unsuitable for vegans. Suitable for vegetarians. The flavour is sharp and savoury, leaning more towards the onion end of the profile than the cheese.
Salt and Vinegar
The salt and vinegar variety uses dried barley malt vinegar extract, giving it a slightly more complex vinegar character than a standard spirit vinegar seasoning. The ingredient list contains no milk, making it potentially vegan-friendly on ingredients, though Discos are produced in a facility that handles milk and other allergens. Check the current packaging for the most accurate allergen information.
Prawn Cocktail
The prawn cocktail flavouring uses no prawn-derived ingredients. The flavour is created through natural flavourings, citric acid, dried onion, and dried yeast extract. On the ingredient list, prawn cocktail Discos appear vegan-friendly, though again the manufacturing environment should be checked. KP labels the full Discos range as suitable for vegetarians.
Are Discos gluten free?
No. Discos contain wheat starch and wheat flour as base ingredients. They also contain barley malt vinegar extract in the salt and vinegar flavour. They are not suitable for coeliacs or anyone on a strict gluten-free diet.
Are Discos vegan?
The Cheese and Onion flavour contains dairy ingredients and is not vegan. Salt and Vinegar and Prawn Cocktail contain no listed dairy or animal-derived ingredients, but Discos are made in a factory alongside products containing milk. KP labels the range as suitable for vegetarians. Anyone following a strict vegan diet should check the current packaging directly.
No MSG, no artificial colours or flavours
KP specifically calls out the absence of MSG and artificial colours and flavours in the Discos range, which puts them at the cleaner end of the mainstream snack market on ingredients. For a crisp that has been around since 1979 and costs around £1 a bag, that is a reasonable position to hold.
Browse the full Discos range at One Pound Crisps including individual bags and bulk boxes. They sit in the same retro-appeal bracket as Space Raiders and Wheat Crunchies, crisps that have stayed relevant not because they reinvented themselves but because they got the original right and left it alone.
When were Discos crisps launched?
Discos were launched in 1979 by KP Snacks. They are one of KP’s longest-running heritage snack brands, alongside Hula Hoops and Skips. The name and disc shape were both a nod to the disco music era of the late 1970s.
What flavours do Discos come in?
Discos currently come in three flavours: Cheese and Onion, Salt and Vinegar, and Prawn Cocktail. The range has remained consistent for decades. All three flavours are suitable for vegetarians. The full range contains no MSG or artificial colours or flavours.
Are Discos gluten free?
No. Discos contain wheat starch and wheat flour as base ingredients and are not suitable for coeliacs or anyone following a strict gluten-free diet. The Salt and Vinegar variety also contains barley malt vinegar extract.
Are Discos vegan?
Cheese and Onion Discos are not vegan as they contain dairy-derived ingredients. Salt and Vinegar and Prawn Cocktail contain no listed dairy, though they are produced in a factory handling milk. Check the current packaging for the most up-to-date information.
Who makes Discos crisps?
Discos are made by KP Snacks, the UK snack manufacturer owned by German company Intersnack since 2012. KP also makes Hula Hoops, McCoys, Nik Naks, Space Raiders, and Wheat Crunchies, among others.
What are Discos made from?
Discos are made from wheat starch, dried potato, sunflower oil, and wheat flour, with flavouring applied on top. They are not sliced fresh potato crisps. The wheat starch and dried potato base gives them their distinctive flat disc shape and clean, snapping texture.