Golden Wonder ownership
When first introduced by Golden Wonder, Wotsits were available in flavours such as Cheesy, Crispy Beef (later named Barbecue Beef and BBQ Beef), Cheese & Bacon, and Spicy Tomato. The latter two were discontinued in 1993. A Prawn Cocktail flavour was released in February 1998.[10]
In the late 1990s, Golden Wonder introduced various brand expansions of the product. The first brand extension was "Long Wotsits" in February 1995, which featured longer strands of corn. The second brand extension was "Weenie Wotsits" in November 1999, which was a smaller version of the snack.[11] This was followed up with the launch of the grid-shaped "Wotsits Wafflers" in May 2000[12][13] and the oven-based "Wotsits Mealtime Potato Shapes" in November 2000.[14][15]
In August 2001, "Whopping Wotsits" were introduced, which were larger versions of the regular variety.[16] The Mealtime Potato Shapes were later released at McDonald's restaurants across the country,[11] and were later expanded to Wotsits Wafflers as well. In November, "Wotsits Micro Snacks" were introduced, which were microwaveable versions of the snack.
In March 2002, Golden Wonder announced the launch of a football-shaped version of the product called "Wotsits Goalden Balls" to coincide with the 2002 FIFA World Cup.[17] The product was released to compete with Walkers' "Footballs" product.[18] In April 2002, Golden Wonder teamed up with British television duo Ant & Dec for the "Goalden Shootout" promotion. Numbered codes of the back were shown in special packs of Nik Naks, Wotsits, Wotsits Wafflers, and Wotsits Goalden Balls.[19]
Walkers ownership
A "Mild Cheese" flavour was added to the range in 2003 after the takeover of Wotsits by Walkers.[7]
On 1 April 2004, Walkers announced the launch of a new "Flamin' Hot" flavour of the product, replacing "BBQ Beef", and was promoted as such as a "HOT NEW FLAVOUR!"[20] On 26 July 2004, Walkers announced the launch of a new product expansion called "Wotsits Twisted", which contained twists of corn, and were available in BBQ and Really Cheesy flavours.[21] From February 2007, Wotsits (along with Walkers's Quavers, Squares, French Fries and Monster Munch) started being made with sunseed oil instead, decreasing saturated fat.[22]
In August 2012, Wotsits Wafflers were reintroduced, being available in Bacon flavour. In May 2013, it was reintroduced as simply "Wafflers" under the Smiths
