With the holiday season fast approaching, the excitement for festive snacks is palpable, particularly as brands roll out quirky new products like limited-edition advent calendars. Among the most buzzworthy additions this year is the new Walkers Crisps advent calendar, priced at £10 and filled with delightful surprises for crisp lovers. Sales have already sparked mixed reactions, leading to heated discussions on social media about its value and contents.
Walking through the office with the sizable Walkers advent calendar drew some curious looks. While some colleagues rushed to ask where to snag one, others were less enthusiastic, possibly thinking it was outlandish or overpriced. The mixed feedback online mirrored this, with some fans fantasizing about the prospect of enjoying crisps daily, even dubbing the offering their 'dream' snack. Others, though, were flabbergasted by the price, labeling it 'stupid' and 'robbery.'
So what’s all the fuss about? The calendar contains 24 doors, with each flap hiding classic flavors from the Walkers lineup: Ready Salted, Cheese & Onion, Salt & Vinegar, and Prawn Cocktail. While these are signature flavors, they leave much to be desired, particularly when you can purchase 24 packs for less than £10 at retailers like Ocado or Tesco. Definitely, for many, it seems the allure of the calendar lies more in its packaging than its contents.
Indeed, for around £6 at the supermarket, brisk shoppers can nab two multi-packs of 12 Walkers crisps, effectively getting the same amount without the packaging and fuss. At its core, this advent calendar feels like it’s primarily cashing in on the holiday hype—a cardboard box with crisps served up as 'festive fun.'
One of the major issues spotlit through reviews and personal experiences is the lack of flavor variety. Instead of utilizing their extensive flavor offerings to deliver something unique or festive—like BBQ or seasonal specials—Walkers opted for the traditional avatars. Critics noted the oversight, saying there could've been more creative uses of flavors, especially at such a premium price.
Not to be outdone, Aldi also unveiled its own festive treat—Cherry Bakewell Jaffa Cakes—at just 99p. Shoppers quickly reacted to this limited-time offering with equal parts excitement and disbelief. The classic Jaffa Cake reinvented with cherry flavor has drawn derisive comments about mixing two beloved treats, yet many are eager to try this novelty.
At Aldi, excitement for the new Cherry Bakewell variant is palpable, with consumers split on the idea. Some staunchly believe Jaffa Cakes and cherry bakewells should never coexist, arguing for the sanctity of dessert traditions. Others cheerfully anticipate the flavor fusion, dubbing it 'yummy' and likening it to fulfilling their 'cake dreams.'
Included within the 12-pack of these festive Jaffa Cakes is the cream sponge base, boasting cherry-flavored filling and topped with white chocolate, alike to their original counterpart, adding this twist should delight any sweet tooth. Upon tasting, many tout the thick layer of this new flavor as not overbearingly sweet but balanced, pulling fans back for seconds.
Returning to Walkers, social media buzz indicates the advent calendar sparked enthusiasm—fans displayed excitement, often posting pictures of their finds, declaring they couldn’t wait for December 1 to kick off the holiday season. Others noted some disappointment, feeling the advent calendar was skimped on creativity, opting for the familiar over the innovative.
Any which way, the novelty of festive snacks, combined with the appeal of daily discoveries, keeps the holiday spirit lively. By creating these advent calendars, brands like Walkers and Aldi cater to consumers wishing to count down the days until holiday merriment, but with sharp eyes on how well their offerings will stack up against traditional favorites or new mash-up treats.
With the holidays approaching ever faster and excitement mounting, shoppers are stocking up on unique snack offerings, fueling discussions about taste, creativity, and value. Whether the Walkers Christmas advent calendar will become the darling of the season or fade away as another gimmicky buy remains to be seen.
What we know for sure is this—marked by consumer reactions varying from love to scorn, both Walkers and Aldi have their names jockeying for attention this holiday. It's this playful push-and-pull over holiday snack choices and the spirited chatter of shoppers trailing through aisles of supermarkets where the magic of Christmas snack tasting really shines.
