Walkers crisps defends price rise - but insists Brexit is not to blame

Walkers crisps has defended its price rise.

The snack giant said it was making "selective cost price changes across our portfolio", including raising the price of standard and grab bag products, as part of ongoing reviews of its price and promotion schemes.

A statement from the company, which has a factory and distribution centre in Peterlee, said "fluctuating foreign exchange rates" were among the factors that sparked the most recent price revision.

A Walkers spokesperson confirmed the 32g standard bag would increase from 50p to 55p, while the larger grab bag would go from 75p to 80p.

"Since we do not set the retail price of our products, it will be for individual retailers to determine the impact on the price at which they sell our products," the spokesperson said.

Responding to accusations the company had used Brexit as an excuse to hike prices, they said while the company used British potatoes, other ingredients including seasoning, frying oil and packaging materials were imported.

It came after the company copped criticism on social media for the price changes, with some Twitter users vowing to boycott the brand when news of the increases broke.