LONDON, UK – Londoners were left doing a double-take at Walkers’ latest billboard, revealing an unexpected flip in packaging colors: Cheese & Onion in green, and Salt & Vinegar in blue.
The tongue in cheek April Fools’ campaign was developed up by the creative minds at VCCP, Walkers’ global creative agency of record, with PR support from Good Relations and content studio Girl&Bear. Adding to the chaos, popular meme pages like Made In Poor Taste and Ends Humour shared what appeared to be leaked images of the new packs.
Why does this prank hit so hard? It’s not just the nostalgia, but it’s the controversy. Many Brits insist that Walkers pulled this switch in the mid-90s, claiming to remember a TV advert where the flavors ‘swapped shirts’ at a football match. Walkers, however, has always maintained that no such change ever occurred.
The campaign has sparked heated debates online, with reactions ranging from joyous approval to utter dismay. One fan exclaimed, “I hope this is real because it makes so much more sense!” Meanwhile, others couldn’t contain their disbelief: “NOOOOO WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?” “You’ve literally confused the whole of England” and “Wow that feels so weird”.
Mark Orbine, Executive Creative Director at VCCP said: “Should salt and vinegar crisp packets be blue or green? What side are you on? We loved playing with this long-standing controversy, we’ve created a campaign that taps into nostalgia and the passion of crisp lovers everywhere this April Fools.”
CAMPAIGN CREDITS
CAMPAIGN TITLE: Walkers April Fools
Client: Walkers
ADVERTISING AGENCY: VCCP
Executive Creative Director: Mark Orbine
Associate Creative Directors: Chris Willis & Paul Kocur
Managing Partner: Olivia Packshaw
Senior Account Director: Patrick Bolton
Account Manager: Mollie O’Sullivan
Group Planning Director: Richard Harriford
Planning Director: Rebecca Pinn
Planner: Percy Fagent
PR Agency: Good Relations
Director: Katherine Corbett
Account Directors Matilda Geen & Priyanka Loomba
Junior Account Executives: Scott Campbell & Niamh Cherrett
OOH + Social Asset Production
Production Company: Girl & Bear
Integrated Creative Producer: Rebecca Hunnybun
Design Director: Tom Loach
Resource Manager – Yasmine Moridi
Media Buying Agency: OMD
