Quavers have been one of Britain’s favourite light snacks since 1968, which makes them older than most people realise. That distinctive curled shape, the cheese flavour, the way they seem to weigh almost nothing in the bag: it is a product that has barely changed in over 50 years, and that consistency is a big part of why they are still one of the top-selling crisps in the UK.
This is the complete guide to Quavers: where they came from, what is in them, every current flavour, and whether they are gluten free or vegan.
Quavers are a light, curly potato starch snack made by Walkers, launched in 1968 by Smiths in Lincoln. The current range includes Cheese, Salt and Vinegar, Prawn Cocktail, BBQ Sauce, and Red Leicester. They are suitable for vegetarians but not vegans or coeliacs. A standard 16g bag contains around 86 calories.
The history of Quavers
From Smiths to Walkers
Quavers were created in 1968 by Smiths, one of Britain’s oldest crisp companies, at their factory on Newark Road in Lincoln. The name comes from the musical note: a quaver has a curled tail, and the crisp shares that shape. The original launch slogan was “you get a lovely lot of Quavers in a bag”, which was either honest or aspirational depending on how much you feel about the weight-to-air ratio.
The brand launched with Cheese and Smoky Bacon flavours, and over the following decades added and removed various varieties including Spicy Beef, Sweet and Sour, Prawn Cocktail, and Ketchup. When Smiths was absorbed into the Walkers empire, Quavers transferred with it. The packaging switched from Smiths branding to Walkers branding in 1993, and Walkers became the formal brand owner in 1997.
The Aardman era
In March 1996, Walkers relaunched Quavers with a new advertising campaign made by Aardman Animations, the Bristol studio behind Wallace and Gromit. The campaign featured a claymation character called Quentin Quaverhead and his family. It ran for several years and is well remembered by anyone who grew up in the late 1990s.
Discontinuations and comebacks
The Prawn Cocktail and Salt and Vinegar flavours were both discontinued in 2012, which caused genuine public frustration. In December 2020, Walkers announced both flavours would return to shelves in February 2021 due to popular demand. The Quavers Salt and Vinegar story has its own post on this site if you want the full detail on that specific saga.
What are Quavers made from?
The ingredients
Quavers are made primarily from potato starch rather than sliced potato, which gives them their distinctive light, puffed texture. The full ingredient list for the standard Cheese Quavers is: potato starch, sunflower oil, cheese flavour (containing whey powder, milk flavouring, flavour enhancers, milk powder, cheese powder, potassium chloride, garlic powder, lactic acid, paprika extract), rice flour, soya flour, salt, yeast, onion powder (malt flour from barley), pepper, wheat flour, and annatto norbixin colouring.
The production process involves extracting starch from potatoes used in Walkers’ main crisp manufacturing, processing it into dough sheets at a facility in Leicester, then cooking and flavouring at the Lincoln factory, where the curled shape forms during frying.
Calories
A standard 16g bag of Cheese Quavers contains 86 calories, which makes them one of the lighter options on the crisp market. For context, a standard 25g bag of Walkers crisps contains around 130 to 135 calories. The lighter weight of the Quavers bag is a genuine advantage if you are watching your intake.
The current Quavers flavour range
The Quavers range as of 2025 includes:
Cheese is the original and by far the most widely stocked. Salt and Vinegar returned in 2021 after its second discontinuation. Prawn Cocktail also came back in 2021. BBQ Sauce was introduced in March 2023. Red Leicester launched in July 2025, adding a new cheesy direction to the range.
Availability varies by retailer. The Cheese variety is universally available. Salt and Vinegar and Prawn Cocktail can be harder to find in smaller shops. If you want to buy the full range or stock up in bulk, the Quavers category at One Pound Crisps shows what is currently in stock.
Are Quavers gluten free?
No. Despite being made primarily from potato starch, Quavers contain wheat flour and malt flour from barley in the recipe. The allergen information on the Walkers website states that Quavers contain barley, soya, wheat, and milk, and may contain gluten, celery, and mustard. They are not suitable for coeliacs or anyone following a strict gluten-free diet. If gluten-free crisps are what you need, the gluten-free crisps guide covers the brands and flavours that are genuinely safe.
Are Quavers vegan?
No. The Cheese flavour contains multiple dairy ingredients including whey powder, milk flavouring, milk powder, and cheese powder. Quavers are labelled as suitable for vegetarians but not suitable for vegans. The other flavours in the range should also be checked individually as ingredients vary.
Where to buy Quavers in bulk
Quavers are widely available in supermarkets and convenience stores as individual bags or multipacks. If you want to buy them by the box at a better per-bag price, the Quavers section at One Pound Crisps stocks boxes at prices that work out considerably cheaper than supermarket multipacks.
When were Quavers invented?
Quavers were launched in 1968 by Smiths at their factory in Lincoln. The Walkers brand took over the product in 1993 when Smiths rebranded, and Walkers became the formal owner in 1997. They have been in continuous production for over 55 years.
What flavours of Quavers are there?
The current Quavers range includes Cheese, Salt and Vinegar, Prawn Cocktail, BBQ Sauce, and Red Leicester. Cheese is the most widely available. Salt and Vinegar and Prawn Cocktail were discontinued in 2012 and relaunched in 2021 following public demand.
Are Quavers gluten free?
No. Quavers contain wheat flour and malt flour from barley, and are not suitable for coeliacs or anyone on a strict gluten-free diet. The allergen labelling states they contain barley, wheat, and may contain gluten.
Are Quavers vegan?
No. Quavers Cheese contain dairy ingredients including whey powder, milk powder, and cheese powder. They are suitable for vegetarians but not vegans. Check each flavour individually as the ingredients vary across the range.
How many calories are in a bag of Quavers?
A standard 16g bag of Cheese Quavers contains 86 calories. This makes them one of the lowest-calorie crisp options on the UK market, largely because each bag weighs less than a standard crisp bag.
Who makes Quavers?
Quavers are made by Walkers, which is owned by PepsiCo. They are produced at the Walkers factory in Lincoln, the same site where they have been made since the brand launched in 1968 under Smiths.