As the sour cream and onion crisps return to shelves, South Africans can once again indulge in the delightful crunch that unites them - a reminder that sometimes, the things we love can indeed come back.
Image: Pexels/Pavel Danilyuk
In a wave of nostalgia that has swept across South Africa, fans of Lay's sour cream and onion flavour crisps are celebrating the return of their favourite snack, which has found its way back to shelves after a tumultuous absence.
The crisps, with their light green packaging that was once a familiar sight in stores, have been back since March 3, marking a sweet reunion for chip enthusiasts who had mourned their discontinuation.
The emotional journey has been rooted in longing and a strong consumer response. When the brand initially discontinued the flavour a few years ago, the reaction was quick and overwhelming.
Fans of the snacks took their grievances to social media, creating a chorus of disappointment and petitions pleading for their return.
Change Organisation spearheaded a campaign that rallied support from thousands who shared their longing for the beloved crisps.
Initially, the brand team justified their decision to remove the sour cream and onion flavour, asserting, “We do random research and dig into insights to understand what are the optimal flavours that need to be in the wave range.
"Sometimes flavours don’t perform as well as others in the range.”
Nevertheless, consumer passion eventually prevailed, underscoring Mzansi's unwavering love for this specific flavour.
In response to these persistent calls, PepsiCo South Africa confirmed that as of March 3, the sour cream and onion crisps are back on shelves for good.
“We all love a good comeback - especially when it’s legendary!” they said, expressing gratitude for the loyalty of South African consumers who kept the flavour alive in conversation.
They also mentioned another return to celebrate the Argentinian creamy pepper steak flavour, affirming their commitment to restoring beloved tastes to the market.
As news of the official comeback spread like wildfire on social media, fans expressed their excitement. #
Enthusiastic posts filled platforms, with users eagerly confirming their quest to grab the crisps. “Sour cream and onion Lay’s are back! Give me the whole box of it right now,” tweeted @Kiiiaarraa_.
Another user, @FundiT_, chimed in, “I’m gonna cry (crying emojis)” while @blue_pours exclaimed, “Getting myself a packet of the sour cream and onion crisps tomorrow since they are back.”
Even those unfamiliar with the crisps’ prior unavailability expressed joy; as @ilitha noted, “Everyone is so excited… meanwhile I didn’t even know they weren’t selling it anymore.”
This sweet comeback resonates not just with taste buds but with a community that rallied together to voice their desire for a cherished snack.
As the sour cream and onion crisps return to shelves, South Africans can once again indulge in the delightful crunch that unites them - a reminder that sometimes, the things we love can indeed come back.