The People's Chip - Smith's Salt and Vinegar
By Secretary of Crunch · Chip Correspondent from Australia · 4 Oct 2026
It is hard to believe there is a chip more universally acclaimed and appreciated than Salt and Vinegar. Indeed, there are claims that the Salt and Vinegar flavour pairing owes its heritage to the Renaissance when - as Shakespeare, and other artistic minds emerged - so too did Western Europe's Chip market from its own Dark Age.
Who are Smiths, anyway?
Smiths are part of the Big 3 in Australia (Smiths, Samboy and Doritos) - in fact, a poll of my own shopping habits shows that 3 out of every 4 bags of chips I buy hails from one of the Big 3 (so about 3 a week).
Smith’s manufacture their chips in a number of locations in Australia, having shuttered some factories over the preceding years. Originally formed in 1931 by English immigrants to Australia, Smith’s - like almost every other major player - has been swept up in the industry consolidation and is now owned by PepsiCo (as are Doritos). Samboy is the strategic counterweight in the industry, forming part of Snack Brand Australia’s stable of chips (alongside some of the smaller label premium brands that have entered the market over the last 20-25 years).
Does this market behemoth maintain flavours that connect with the heart and soul of Australia? S&Vs form a foundation of the chip industry - every non-corn chip brand has a Salt and vinegar offering, and the English heritage of Smith’s means they have S&V in their blood.
Setting the scene...
Smith's Salt and Vinegar chips is one of the most consistently available, and consumed, chip in Australia [no citation]. Australian-made, the humble S&V is available in every grocery store, every convenience store, every sporting venue or bar, and most hotel mini bars - truly an indicator of its ubiquitousness in Australia.
Nary a kid's birthday goes by without a bag of these being cracked, with all premiums brands (Red Rock, Kettle, Boulder Canyon) offering their own spin on this classic - some like-for-like (such as Samboy's own purple classic S&V), others grandiose (Penfold's Grange vinegar and Salt from the sweat of a sun-baking celebrity) (exaggeration, flavour may not exist).
Smith's is positioned as the classic, ol' faithful - a semi-modern interpretation (supplanting Samboy's legacy), while passing up some of the bells and whistles of the premium brands.
So, how does Smith's S&V stack up?
The long-form review
These S&Vs were cracked and commenced eating solo at a moderate pace, before testing out the 'unconscious eating' mode. Lastly, they were tested with some similar snacks for pairing. This resulted in the entire bag being consumed over an hour.
Taste: 5/5 There is absolutely no mistaking this flavour - it's iconic, and despite the plain name, Smith's have managed to concoct a fine balance between the salt, the acidity of the vinegar, and the slight sweetness that you expect from an S&V. The importance of the sweetness shines in mouthfeel.
Texture: 4/5 These chips strike a good thickness balance - enough structural integrity to hold together even largely at the bottom of the bag, but not enough that you have to put in force to get through the bag (a risk sometimes experienced with Corn Chips). The ridges ('crinkle cut') are effective at holding extra flavour.
(The crinkle cut provides the equivalent of fertile mountains and valleys where flavours can live and grow)
Appeal: 3.5/5 Smith's modest, mainstream packaging conceals a great flavour.
The pink Salt and Vinegar bag is unique to Australia, with S&Vs typically green in the UK, and blue in the US - clearly ISO standards have not yet matured to chip recognition and accessibility
Longevity: 4/5 There is nothing like smashing some S&Vs, and the aforementioned hint of sweetness is a strength of Smith's. The balance it brings allows you to work through a massive amount - far greater than Samboy's, who's paint stripper-like flavouring renders your tongue numb after the initial joyous flavour hit. If polishing off a whole bag of Samboy equates to an ultra marathon or the Dakar Rally, Smith's is still no walk in the park. Getting to the end of the bag is still an achievement... perhaps more like a 10K Fun Run. It leaves you a little fatigued, but ultimately rewarded and something you may consider doing on an ongoing basis. This has an upside, as an inbuilt signal to let you know when to slow down or, if necessary, stop eating.
In summary, eat them.
Smith's S&V should be the standard, no-nonsense chip that you invite to parties. It will be better company than most of your friends, and one you’ll love to have back
Comments (4)
I will forever think of Smith's as one of the Big 3!
🤣 WHO wrote this!!?
@Lady Vinegar - Their pen name is Secretary of Crunch.
Lady Vinegar - you must surely be an aficionado of S&Vs