Nik Naks

A Rib 'n' Saucy flavour packet of Nik Naks.

Nik Naks are a type of extruded corn snack previously manufactured by Golden Wonder in the United Kingdom, following the successful take over of Sooner Snacks. The brand was purchased by United Biscuits in 2006. KP (United Biscuits) now make Nik Naks and Wheat Crunchies.

They are available in 4 flavours:

• Scampi 'n' Lemon (Green bag)
• Nice 'n' Spicy (Orange bag)
• Rib 'n' Saucy (Purple bag)
• Pickle 'n' Onion (Red bag)

The first flavours were Cheese (not to be confused with "Cream n Cheesy"), Nice n Spicy, and Scampi & Lemon. The product re-appeared briefly as a Marks and Spencer's own brand, available in family sized packets only in Nice n Spicy flavour; disappearing from the shops entirely in the early nineties.

In the mid 90's, the flavours were Nice n Spicy, Cream and Cheesy, and Rib n Saucy. Rib n Saucy replaced Scampi and Lemon as a move to make consumers feel that Nik Naks was a less smelly brand. Sales of Nik Naks grew by 32% once the "smelly" flavour was removed. At some point a Hard Cheese flavour was introduced and later discontinued. On Valentine's Day 1994 Golden Wonder released Ltd Edition Naughty 'N' Saucy flavour Nik Naks and for a limited time a Tomato and Mayonnaise flavour, and the aphrodisiac ingredient was 0.01% Guarana Seed Extract. It received mass PR support and featured on page 3 of the Sun as a snack that made a woman pregnant. Scampi & Lemon made a comeback in 2002, just before being sold to KP and United Biscuits. The Scampi & Lemon then replaced the Cream & Cheesy flavour in multipacks from 2006.

From 2008 the Scampi n Lemon flavour was phased out to make room for the new Pickle n Onion flavour.

The brand ran a notable advertising campaign in the 90s created by animator Bill Plympton, based on his short film Push Comes to Shove, in which two men's heads transform into a variety of shapes. [1]. This was subsequently followed up by 5 second adverts describing how ugly the snack was. In 1993, the brand ran an instant win promotion giving away rubbish. Such things as tummy fluff, 2p piece, bits of string were given away.

During 2004-5, its advertising led with the tag line 'Eat The Freak', coined due to their odd appearance. One commercial, set on a cross-Channel ferry, was a modern parody of the sci-fi classic Alien, wherein a passenger eats a Nik Nak only to have it explode from his stomach and begin dancing to Le Freak by Chic. [2]

Simba Chips in South Africa also produces a corn chip called Nik Naks which claims to be the country's biggest selling snack. The original flavour is cheese but they now also come in fruit chutney and cheese & sweet chilli flavours.

Ingredients

Nice 'n' Spicy Flavour:
Maize,Sunflower Oil (25%) ,Vegetable Oil (13%) ,Nice N' Spicy Flavour [Sugar, Salt, Acidity Regulator: Sodium Diacetate, Dried Glucose Syrup, Lactose, Dried Autolysed Yeast ,Dried Onion, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Curry Powder (Spices, Rice Flour), Flavourings (contains Soya Sauce, Wheat Flour ,Malt Vinegar), Dried Tomato, Spice, Colour: Paprika Extract, Spice Extracts] "Tesco Groceries - Kp Nik Naks Nice 'N' Spicy 6Pk". http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=264925884. Retrieved 4 August 2010. 

Pickle 'n' Onion Flavour:
Maize, Sunflower Oil (25%), Vegetable Oil (13%), Pickled Onion Flavour [Sugar, Salt, Flavour enhancer: Monosodium Glutamate, Acidity Regulator: Sodium Diacetate, Citric Acid, Rice Flour, Potassium Chloride, Corn Starch, Maltodextrin, Dried Onion]

Rib 'n' Saucy Flavour:
Maize, Sunflower Oil (25%), Vegetable Oil (13%), Rib 'n' Saucy Flavour [Sugar, Salt, Maltodextrin, Flavour enhancer: Monosodium Glutamate, Spices, Dried Onion, Yeast Extract, Acidity Regulator: Sodium Diacetate, Dried Garlic, Flavourings, Dried Tomato, Citric Acid]

Scampi 'n' Lemon Flavour:
Maize, Sunflower Oil (25%), Vegetable Oil (13%), Scampi 'n' Lemon Flavour [Salt, Sugar, Flavour Enhancer: Monosodium Glutamate, Acidity Regulator: Sodium Diacetate, Dried Yeast, Citric Acid, Flavourings, Colour: Paprika Extract]^{[citation needed]}

Nutritional information

	Rib 'n' Saucy Flavour		Nice 'n' Spicy Flavour		Scampi 'n' Lemon Flavour		Pickle 'n' Onion Flavour
Average Values	Per 100g	Per Bag	Per 100g	Per Bag	Per 100g	Per Bag	Per 100g	Per Bag
Energy (kJ)	2347	704	2338	585	2341	585	2355	707
Energy (kCal)	564	169	561	140	562	141	571	143
Protein	5.0g	1.5g	4.7g	1.2g	5.1g	1.3g	5.0g	1.5g
Carbohydrate	49.8g	14.9g	49.6g	12.4g	49.5g	12.4g	50.3g	15.1g
of which Sugars	4.0g	1.2g	4.1g	1.0g	4.1g	1.0g	2.6g	0.8g
Fat	38.3g	11.5g	38.3g	9.6g	38.2g	9.6g	38.2g	11.5g
of which Saturates	8.4g	2.5g	8.4g	2.1g	8.4g	2.1g	8.4g	2.5g
Fibre	3.1g	0.9g	3.0g	0.8g	3.0g	0.8g	3.0g	0.9g
Sodium	0.7g	0.2g	1.0g	0.3g	0.9g	0.2g	0.8g	0.2g

References