Space Raiders

Space Raiders is a British savoury-snack brand produced by KP Snacks. The range consists of small, alien-shaped corn and wheat snacks sold primarily in the United Kingdom. Its distinctive extraterrestrial shape, low price positioning and strongly recognizable flavours have made it a familiar presence in British convenience retail and value-oriented snacking. The brand was introduced in 1987 at a retail price of 10 pence, establishing an accessible proposition aimed at impulse purchases and pocket-money consumers. Price has subsequently changed several times in response to commodity costs and broader retail conditions, although affordability has remained central to the brand’s identity. The snacks have traditionally been associated with a playful science-fiction theme. Earlier packaging carried short comic strips, including stories about Astra and her Space Pirates and humorous situations involving aliens reacting to the crunching sound of the snacks being eaten. More recent packs use flavour-linked Space Raider character statistics, retaining the brand’s connection with fictional alien characters without relying solely on the original comic format. The core range has included Beef, Pickled Onion, Saucy BBQ and Spicy variants. Cheese was discontinued in 2007, while Salt & Vinegar was discontinued in 2010. Saucy BBQ was introduced as a new variant during the 2010 relaunch. The product was also reformulated and repackaged in foil during that relaunch, with the new packaging intended to improve visibility on retail shelves. Packs were sold at 20 pence at the time. In 2019, the standard pack was replaced by a larger 25-gram bag carrying a recommended retail price of 30 pence. The price-marked packaging promoted the change with a “NEW BIGGER PACK!” message, reinforcing the brand’s value proposition through a greater quantity rather than a premium repositioning. Retail prices have continued to fluctuate over time, including periods in which the product rose to 25 pence before returning to 20 pence. Space Raiders remains a relatively focused snack brand rather than a broad food portfolio. Its principal differentiators are the alien-shaped format, recognizable flavour names, low unit price and nostalgic visual identity. The brand’s documented market presence is concentrated in the United Kingdom, where it sits within KP Snacks’ wider savoury-snack portfolio.

Space Raiders was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1987 by KP Snacks as a low-cost corn and wheat snack. The product was designed around a distinctive alien shape and a science-fiction-inspired identity, giving it a recognizable point of difference from conventional crisps and extruded snacks. It launched at 10 pence per bag, a price that remained associated with the product for many years and helped establish its reputation as an inexpensive impulse snack. The brand’s early and long-running identity was supported by playful packaging and comic storytelling. Until 2010, the backs of packs carried mini comic strips. These included adventures involving Astra and her Space Pirates, as well as comic scenarios in which aliens were frightened by the sound of Space Raiders being crunched. This material gave the product a character-led identity and helped turn the packaging into part of the consumer experience. Later packaging used four Space Raider statistics, with one species associated with each flavour, continuing the fictional alien theme in a more compact format. The product range changed over time. Beef and Pickled Onion remained established flavours, while Cheese was discontinued in 2007. Salt & Vinegar was later discontinued in 2010. In the same year, the brand underwent a packaging and product relaunch. The new foil packs were intended to create greater shelf standout, and the ingredients were changed. Saucy BBQ was introduced as an additional flavour during this update, broadening the range while retaining the snack’s established format. Pricing has been an important part of the brand’s history. The original 10-pence price eventually increased to 15 pence in late October 2007. It later rose to 25 pence before being reduced to 20 pence. These changes reflected volatility in underlying commodity prices and the practical challenge of maintaining a very low retail price. Despite these fluctuations, the brand continued to be associated with value and accessible single-serve snacking. In 2019, KP Snacks replaced the standard bag with a larger 25-gram pack. The new pack carried a recommended retail price of 30 pence and prominently communicated the change with a “NEW BIGGER PACK!” banner. This represented a value-oriented product update: rather than moving Space Raiders into a premium segment, the brand emphasized more product in each pack. The documented current range includes Beef, Pickled Onion, Saucy BBQ and Spicy flavours. Space Raiders is therefore best understood as a focused British snack brand whose competitive identity rests on low pricing, strong visual distinctiveness, nostalgic packaging and a small selection of familiar savoury flavours. It remains part of KP Snacks’ portfolio and is primarily associated with the United Kingdom.

• 2019

  Larger 25g pack introduced

  [1]Space Raiders (snack food)en.wikipedia.org

  The standard bag was replaced with a larger 25-gram pack carrying a 30-pence recommended retail price.

• 2010

  Packaging and product relaunch

  [1]Space Raiders (snack food)en.wikipedia.org

  Space Raiders moved to foil packaging, the ingredients were changed and Saucy BBQ was added as a new variant.

• 2010

  End of mini comic strips

  [1]Space Raiders (snack food)en.wikipedia.org

  The period in which mini comic strips appeared on the backs of Space Raiders bags ended around the 2010 relaunch.

• 2007

  First documented price increase

  [1]Space Raiders (snack food)en.wikipedia.org

  The price increased from 10 pence to 15 pence in late October after remaining unchanged since launch.

• 2007

  Cheese variant discontinued

  [1]Space Raiders (snack food)en.wikipedia.org

  Cheese was removed from the Space Raiders flavour range.

• 1987

  Brand introduction

  [1]Space Raiders (snack food)en.wikipedia.org

  KP Snacks introduced Space Raiders in the United Kingdom as alien-shaped corn and wheat snacks at a retail price of 10 pence.

An affordable, playful British savoury snack built around an alien-shaped format, familiar flavours and a science-fiction character theme.

• Corn and wheat savoury snack

  Beef Space Raiders

  A beef-flavoured version of the brand’s characteristic alien-shaped corn and wheat snack. It is one of the documented core flavours in the current range.

• Corn and wheat savoury snack

  Pickled Onion Space Raiders

  A pickled-onion-flavoured variant using the same alien-shaped snack format. Pickled Onion is one of the established flavours associated with the current Space Raiders range.

• Corn and wheat savoury snack · 2010

  Saucy BBQ Space Raiders

  A barbecue-flavoured variant announced during the 2010 brand relaunch. It expanded the range while preserving the product’s low-price, single-serve format.

• Corn and wheat savoury snack

  Spicy Space Raiders

  A spicy-flavoured version included among the documented current varieties. Like the other active flavours, it uses the brand’s recognizable alien-shaped snack pieces.

• Corn and wheat savoury snack

  Cheese Space Raiders

  A former cheese-flavoured variety that was discontinued in 2007.

• Corn and wheat savoury snack

  Salt & Vinegar Space Raiders

  A former salt-and-vinegar variety that was discontinued in 2010.

• 2019

  Move to a larger 25g packGeneration change

  Background

  The brand continued to compete through affordability and perceived value in the single-serve snack segment.

  Action taken

  The standard bag was replaced with a larger 25-gram pack and marked with a “NEW BIGGER PACK!” message.

  Aftermath

  The larger format supported a value-led proposition while carrying a 30-pence recommended retail price.

  Source

• 2010

  Foil-pack relaunch and recipe changeStrategy

  Background

  KP Snacks sought to improve the product’s visibility in retail environments and refresh the established range.

  Action taken

  Space Raiders were relaunched in foil packs, the ingredients were changed and Saucy BBQ was added.

  Aftermath

  The relaunch maintained the brand’s alien-themed identity while updating its packaging, formulation and flavour offer.

  Source

• 2007

  Increase from 10p to 15pPrice change

  Background

  The brand had maintained its original 10-pence retail price since launch, but changing commodity costs created pressure on the low-priced format.

  Action taken

  The retail price was increased to 15 pence in late October 2007.

  Aftermath

  The price later moved through 25 pence and then 20 pence as pricing continued to fluctuate.

  Source

1. 1Space Raiders (snack food)en.wikipedia.org