Space Raiders have been around since 1987 and for most of that time they cost 10p. That price point made them famous. The alien-shaped corn puff with the face embossed on each piece became one of the most recognisable crisps in Britain, particularly among anyone who grew up in the 1990s with 10p to spend at the school tuck shop.
The History of Space Raiders
Where they came from
Space Raiders were launched by KP Snacks in 1987. The concept was simple: an aggressively flavoured corn puff at a price that undercut almost everything else on the market. The alien face shape was distinctive enough to stand out, and the pickled onion flavour was sharp enough to be memorable. They became a playground staple almost immediately.
The 10p price tag held for decades, which became part of the brand identity. When the price eventually crept up, it made national news. There’s something about a snack that costs the same as it did in 1987 that becomes culturally significant, and Space Raiders earned that significance.
The KP connection
KP Snacks, the company behind Space Raiders, also makes Nik Naks, Hula Hoops and McCoy’s. Space Raiders sit at the value end of that portfolio: the snack that was never trying to be premium, just reliably good at a low price. That positioning has never really changed.
Space Raiders Flavours
Pickled Onion
The original and the most popular. Pickled onion Space Raiders have a sharp, tangy flavour that’s more aggressive than most pickled onion crisps on the market. The corn puff base absorbs the seasoning differently to a potato crisp, which gives the flavour a slightly different character: more intense upfront, fading to a warm aftertaste. The box of 36 pickled onion Space Raiders is the one to get if you know what you like.
Beef
The beef flavour is the second classic in the range. Less sharp than pickled onion, with a savoury, meaty seasoning that works well on the corn puff base. Beef Space Raiders tend to appeal to people who want something bold but not acidic. A good alternative if pickled onion is too much.
Saucy BBQ
The newer addition to the lineup. Saucy BBQ Space Raiders bring a sweeter, smokier flavour profile that’s different in character to the two originals. It sits closer to the mainstream end of the crisp flavour spectrum, which makes it accessible if you’re introducing someone to the brand who isn’t sure about pickled onion.
How the flavours compare
Pickled onion is the sharpest. Beef is the most savoury. BBQ is the sweetest. All three use the same alien-shaped corn puff base, so the texture is consistent across the range. If you’re buying a mixed selection, all three boxes together give you a good spread for an event or workplace snack supply.
Why Space Raiders Still Work
The format holds up
Corn puff crisps have a different eating experience to potato crisps. They’re lighter, they dissolve faster, and they carry seasoning in a way that can be more intense than a regular crisp. Space Raiders use this to their advantage. The alien shape is also larger than a typical corn puff, which means more surface area for flavour. It’s a format that hasn’t needed updating because it works.
The nostalgia factor
A significant part of Space Raiders’ continued popularity is nostalgia. People who grew up eating them in the 1990s still buy them. They appear at retro sweet and crisp events, in nostalgia gift boxes and on any “best British crisps” list. That’s a durable kind of brand loyalty. The retro sweets guide covers the broader nostalgia food category if that’s the angle you’re coming from.
Buying Space Raiders in Bulk
Box quantities at One Pound Sweets
All three Space Raiders flavours are available in boxes of 36 bags at One Pound Sweets. At 25g per bag, a box of 36 gives you 900g of crisps at a per-bag price that beats most shops. Free UK delivery applies to orders over £20, which a single box covers. The full Space Raiders range is on the brand page.
Good for events and offices
The individual 25g bag format makes Space Raiders well suited to events, party bags and office snack supplies. Each bag is a single serving, the price per bag is low, and the range of flavours means you can cater to different preferences without buying multiple full-size multipacks.
Space Raiders are one of those snacks that has earned its place in the British crisp landscape without ever trying to move upmarket. They’re still the same alien-shaped corn puffs they were in 1987, still aggressively flavoured, and still selling in serious volume. That’s a decent track record.
Shop Space Raiders
All three flavours available in boxes of 36.