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Co-op has launched its 2026 festive crisp range across physical stores nationwide, headlined by the return of its Irresistible Ultimate Roast Potato Crinkle Cut Crisps following a three-year hiatus.

Originally launched in 2019 and removed from shelves in 2023, the product has been reintroduced with a crinkle-cut texture to enhance crunch. The seasonal portfolio rollout also sees the return of Pigs in Blankets crisps alongside a new premium addition for 2026: Wagyu Beef & Caramelised Onion.

Arriving on shelves in September, the early seasonal deployment enables the convenience retailer to capture impulse treat occasions and kickstart festive ambient snacking sales ahead of the primary fourth-quarter trading period.

Festive Portfolio and Product Formulations

The 2026 Christmas lineup sits within Co-op's premium private-label tier, Irresistible. Each recipe is produced using British potatoes, batch-cooked by hand in small runs:

🥔 Irresistible Ultimate Roast Potato Crinkle Cut Crisps (150g): Recreates traditional Christmas roast dinner seasonings using Cornish sea salt, garlic, rosemary, black pepper, and extra virgin olive oil over a crinkle-cut potato chip.

🥩 Irresistible Wagyu Beef & Caramelised Onion Flavour Crisps (150g): A new addition for the 2026 season, pairing British Wagyu beef flavouring with sweet caramelised onion to target consumer interest in gourmet meat profiles.

🥓 Irresistible Pigs in Blankets Crinkle Cut Crisps (150g): A returning seasonal staple formulated with smoky, savoury seasoning designed to replicate bacon-wrapped cocktail sausages.

All three seasonal SKUs are packaged in 150g sharing bags carrying a recommended retail price of £1.75.

Consumer Demand and Seasonal Merchandising

The decision to reintroduce the Roast Potato flavour follows consistent inbound shopper requests via customer care channels and social media since its delisting three years ago.

Natalie Dawe, Crisps, Snacks and Nuts Development Manager at Co-op, stated that customer feedback directly shaped the decision to return the product to store shelves. Dawe noted that while the product name appears straightforward, the flavour profile incorporates distinct herbs, seasoning, and olive oil to emulate freshly roasted potatoes, adding that the trio of festive crisps provides shoppers with an early start to seasonal entertaining.

By initiating festive savoury snack distribution in mid-September, Co-op aligns with broader grocery retail merchandising schedules that utilise limited-edition, holiday-themed sharing formats to generate incremental basket additions throughout the autumn run-up to Christmas.