Space Raiders are one of those crisps that people feel a specific, almost irrational loyalty towards. The alien shape. The punchy flavours. The fact that they were 10p for what felt like forever. There is a generation of British people for whom Space Raiders are less a snack and more a memory. This guide covers where they came from, what flavours currently exist, what happened to the ones that disappeared, and where to get them now.
Space Raiders are an alien-shaped corn and wheat snack made by KP Snacks, launched in 1987 and famously priced at 10p for over two decades. The current range includes Beef, Pickled Onion, Spicy, and Saucy BBQ. Cheese and Salt and Vinegar have both been discontinued and are not returning.
The history of Space Raiders
The 10p crisp that lasted 20 years
Space Raiders launched in 1987 at a retail price of 10p per bag. That price held for twenty years, until late 2007 when it rose to 15p for the first time. For context, a Mars bar was 19p in 1987 and cost considerably more by 2007. The discipline required to hold a 10p price point through two decades of inflation was a genuine commercial achievement, and it cemented Space Raiders’ position as the go-to cheap crisp for an entire generation of British schoolchildren.
The brand actually has roots going back slightly further. Space Raiders replaced KP’s earlier Alien Spacers range, which itself evolved from a product called Outer Spacers. The alien-shaped format was therefore an established concept before Space Raiders launched in 1987 with its definitive branding and the iconic 10p price.
Astra and the comic strip
The original Space Raiders packaging featured a female alien mascot called Astra, who appeared on the front of bags and starred in a comic strip on the back called “Astra and Her Space Pirates”. The comic strips ran on every bag from launch until 2010 when the packaging was redesigned. Astra disappeared from the front of the bags in the 1990s but the strips continued for another decade.
The current packaging features individual alien species for each flavour with “Space Raider Stats” on the back, a modern version of the same character-based approach.
The 2010 relaunch
In October 2010, Space Raiders were relaunched in new foil packaging designed to improve shelf presence. The ingredients were also updated, and a new Saucy BBQ flavour was introduced at this point. The foil packs replaced the older style and remain the current format.
Current Space Raiders flavours
Space Raiders currently come in four flavours: Beef, Pickled Onion, Spicy, and Saucy BBQ. Beef and Pickled Onion are the originals from 1987. Spicy has been in the range for most of the brand’s history, with some formula changes over the years. Saucy BBQ arrived with the 2010 relaunch.
Discontinued flavours
Cheese
Cheese-flavoured Space Raiders were available until the late 2000s, when they were discontinued. The packaging featured a yellow alien. They have not returned.
Salt and Vinegar
Salt and Vinegar Space Raiders were discontinued around 2010, around the same time as the relaunch. They remain one of the most requested discontinued crisp flavours in the UK. KP has not announced any plans to bring them back. The salt and vinegar Space Raiders discontinued post covers the situation in full if you are still holding out hope.
What are Space Raiders made from?
Space Raiders are a corn and wheat snack, not a potato crisp. They are made using an extrusion process, mixing corn and wheat into a dough, forming it into the alien head shape, and baking rather than frying. This gives them a lighter, drier texture than a fried potato crisp. The flavour comes from powdered seasonings applied after the shapes come out of the oven.
Being baked rather than fried means Space Raiders are relatively low in fat compared to standard fried crisps, which contributed to their value positioning: you get a lot of bag for the calorie count.
Buying Space Raiders in bulk
The Space Raiders section at One Pound Crisps stocks boxes of all current flavours. Buying by the box works out significantly cheaper per bag than buying individually, which feels appropriate for a brand that built its reputation on value. The bulk buying guide covers the general case for buying crisps in boxes if you want to understand the savings involved.
When were Space Raiders launched?
Space Raiders launched in 1987 by KP Snacks, replacing the earlier Alien Spacers range. They were priced at 10p from launch, a price that held until 2007 when it rose to 15p for the first time.
What flavours of Space Raiders are there?
The current Space Raiders range includes Beef, Pickled Onion, Spicy, and Saucy BBQ. Cheese and Salt and Vinegar have both been discontinued. Beef and Pickled Onion are the original 1987 flavours.
Are Salt and Vinegar Space Raiders discontinued?
Yes. Salt and Vinegar Space Raiders were discontinued around 2010 at the time of the brand relaunch. KP Snacks has not announced any plans to bring them back. They remain one of the most requested discontinued crisp flavours in the UK.
Who makes Space Raiders?
Space Raiders are made by KP Snacks, the UK manufacturer also responsible for Hula Hoops, Nik Naks, McCoy’s, and Skips. KP Snacks has been owned by German company Intersnack since 2012 but continues to manufacture in the UK.
Are Space Raiders baked or fried?
Space Raiders are baked rather than fried. They are made from corn and wheat using an extrusion and baking process, which gives them a lighter, drier texture than a standard fried potato crisp and makes them relatively low in fat.
Why were Space Raiders 10p for so long?
KP held the 10p price point from launch in 1987 until 2007, a period of 20 years. This was a deliberate strategy to position Space Raiders as the affordable option in the value crisp market. The price finally increased to 15p in late 2007 due to rising commodity costs.