TL;DR: Ringos are a ring-shaped corn and potato snack made by Golden Wonder, launched in the early 1970s. They come in Cheese and Onion, Salt and Vinegar, and Sour Cream and Onion. All three flavours contain milk and wheat, so none are vegan or gluten free. Each pack comes in at under 100 calories, making them one of the lightest branded crisps you can buy.
Ringos have been quietly popular for over 50 years. They do not tend to dominate the conversation the way Walkers or Monster Munch do, but they have a loyal following, a genuinely distinctive ring shape, and a calorie count that makes them stand out from most other branded snacks. This guide covers everything: the history, the flavours, the ingredients, the dietary info, and where to buy them in bulk.
The History of Ringos
Who makes Ringos?
Ringos are made by Golden Wonder, the Scottish crisp company founded in 1947 by Edinburgh baker William Alexander. Since 2006, Golden Wonder has been owned by Tayto, the Northern Irish crisp and snack manufacturer. The Ringos brand sits under the Golden Wonder umbrella alongside Transform-A-Snack and other retro snacks.
Golden Wonder launched Ringos in the early 1970s. The Tayto Group’s own brand history describes them as being “born in the early 70s,” and the brand has been a consistent part of their snack range ever since. They are manufactured at Golden Wonder’s facility in Corby, Northamptonshire.
For context on Golden Wonder and what happened to the brand, our post on whether Golden Wonder still exists covers the full story, including the Tayto takeover.
Why ring-shaped?
The ring shape was a deliberate product decision to create something visually distinct from standard crisp formats. It works. Ringos look different on the shelf, they are fun to eat (the classic move is putting them on your fingers), and the shape distributes the seasoning evenly across the surface. The hollow centre means less product per gram, which is partly why the calorie count per pack stays low.
Ringos Flavours: What Is Available
Cheese and Onion
The Cheese and Onion flavour is built on a base of potato powder, potato starch, wheat flour, and wheat starch, with sunflower oil and a cheese and onion flavour seasoning that includes onion powder, yeast extract, whey powder (milk), dextrose, salt, full-cream milk powder, flavouring, and cheese powder (milk). Rye flour, salt, and turmeric complete the ingredient list. Turmeric gives them their distinctive golden-yellow colour.
Allergens: contains wheat (from the flour, starch, and seasoning), rye (a cereal containing gluten), and milk (from the whey powder and milk powder). Not vegan. Not gluten free. Suitable for vegetarians.
Salt and Vinegar
Salt and Vinegar Ringos share the same base of potato powder, potato starch, wheat flour, and wheat starch, with sunflower oil. The seasoning contains salt, sodium diacetate (an acidity regulator), wheat flour, lactose (from milk), dextrose, monosodium glutamate, whey powder (milk), and citric acid. Rye flour, salt, and turmeric are also present.
Allergens: contains wheat, rye, and milk (lactose and whey powder). Not vegan. Not gluten free. Suitable for vegetarians.
Sour Cream and Onion
The Sour Cream and Onion variety follows a similar base recipe. The seasoning contains dairy-derived ingredients including sour cream powder and whey powder, which means this flavour shares the same dietary profile as the others. Not vegan. Not gluten free. Suitable for vegetarians.
A word on calorie counts
Golden Wonder markets Ringos on the 100-calories-or-under angle, and they deliver on it. A standard 12.5g multipack serves comes in at around 61 calories. A 20g single serve sits at roughly 98 calories. That places them comfortably below most other branded snacks and makes them a reasonable choice if you are watching your intake but still want something proper to crunch on.
Are Ringos Vegan?
None of the flavours are vegan
All three Ringos flavours contain dairy-derived ingredients. Cheese and Onion contains whey powder and milk powder. Salt and Vinegar contains lactose and whey powder. Sour Cream and Onion contains dairy by definition. Every flavour is off-limits for a vegan diet.
They are all suitable for vegetarians, and none contain meat or fish. But the dairy content across all variants makes them unsuitable for vegans.
If you are looking for vegan-friendly ring-shaped snacks, the options are limited on the mainstream market. Our best vegan crisps UK guide covers the confirmed vegan options across all formats.
For more detail on which specific Ringos flavours are and are not vegan, with the full ingredient breakdown, our dedicated post on whether Ringos are vegan covers it thoroughly.
Are Ringos Gluten Free?
No. All flavours contain gluten
Ringos contain wheat flour, wheat starch, and rye flour in every flavour. Both wheat and rye are cereals containing gluten, and both are listed as allergens on the packaging. Ringos are not suitable for anyone with coeliac disease or a wheat or gluten intolerance.
There is no gluten free variant of Ringos currently available. If you need gluten free ring-shaped snacks, you would need to look at alternatives. Our gluten free crisps UK guide is a good starting point.
How Do Ringos Compare to Other Low-Calorie Crisps?
Under 100 calories per pack
Very few branded crisps sit reliably under 100 calories per standard serve. Ringos do, and they have built part of their identity around it. A Walkers standard bag is around 130 calories. A bag of Quavers comes in at roughly 88 calories. Ringos at 61 to 98 calories depending on pack size sit at the lighter end of the market without tasting like a diet product.
The shape plays a part
The hollow ring format means less product per gram compared to a solid crisp or a dense corn snack. That is not a complaint. The seasoning coats all the surfaces of the ring, which means flavour impact per calorie is reasonable. Salt and Vinegar in particular punches above its weight on the tang-to-calorie ratio.
Where to Buy Ringos in Bulk
Ringos are a popular choice for offices, schools, and events because of the low calorie count and the distinctive format. If you want full boxes rather than individual multipacks, our Ringos category page has both the Cheese and Onion and Salt and Vinegar varieties available in box format at a pound a bag.
Buying a full box works out significantly cheaper per bag than picking up multipacks from a supermarket. For anyone going through them regularly, it is the obvious move.
Ringos sit in an interesting position in the UK crisp market. They are not the loudest brand. They do not have the marketing spend that Walkers has. But they have been around for over 50 years, they taste genuinely good, and under 100 calories a pack is a real selling point. That combination is why they are still here.
Buy Ringos in Bulk at One Pound Crisps
Get full boxes of Cheese and Onion and Salt and Vinegar Ringos delivered direct.
Who makes Ringos crisps?
Ringos are made by Golden Wonder, which has been owned by Tayto Group since 2006. They are manufactured in Corby, Northamptonshire and have been part of the Golden Wonder range since the early 1970s.
Are Ringos vegan?
No. All Ringos flavours contain dairy-derived ingredients. Cheese and Onion contains whey powder and milk powder. Salt and Vinegar contains lactose and whey powder. None of the flavours are suitable for a vegan diet, though all are suitable for vegetarians.
Are Ringos gluten free?
No. Ringos contain wheat flour, wheat starch, and rye flour in all flavours. Both wheat and rye are cereals containing gluten. They are not suitable for people with coeliac disease or a gluten intolerance.
How many calories are in Ringos?
A standard 12.5g multipack serving of Ringos contains approximately 61 calories. A 20g single serve contains around 98 calories. All pack sizes are designed to come in under 100 calories, which is a key part of how the brand is positioned.
What flavours do Ringos come in?
Ringos are currently available in Cheese and Onion, Salt and Vinegar, and Sour Cream and Onion. The Cheese and Onion and Salt and Vinegar flavours are the most widely stocked. All flavours are suitable for vegetarians.
Where can I buy Ringos in bulk?
Ringos are available in full boxes at One Pound Crisps, with both Cheese and Onion and Salt and Vinegar available at a pound per bag. Supermarkets generally only stock multipacks, so buying in bulk online is the most cost-effective option.