Pringles manufacturer wins High Court appeal

Updated 14.32 Fri Jul 04 2008

Keywords: potato, high court, Proctor & Gamble Co, pringles, crisp

The High Court in London has ruled that Pringles are not a potato crisp.

The manufacturer Procter & Gamble Co (P&G) appealed a VAT and Duties Tribunal decision in May that ruled the snack was subject to VAT as it was a potato crisp product.

P&G argued Pringles were not similar to potato crisps, due to their texture, mouth melt taste, uniform colour and regular shape which is not found in nature

The ruling will save P&G millions of pounds and ensure its customers will not have to pay more for the distinctive-tasting snack in a tube which has generated around £500 million in worldwide sales.

P&G argued Pringles were not similar to potato crisps due to their texture, uniform colour and regular shape "which is not found in nature."

They also maintained crisps do not contain non-potato flours and are not packaged in tubes, while Pringles are more like a biscuit as the snack is manufactured from dough.

Judge Justice Warren said Pringles are not, on the facts found, products made from the potato, or from potato flour or from potato starch.