R.I.P. Salt and Vinegar Ruffles

My favourite flavour of potato chip is was Salt and Vinegar Ruffles.

A few months ago, I started noticing that it was becoming increasingly difficult to find them on grocery store shelves. Then new flavours started to appear: Thick Cut Au Gratin and Thick Cut Creamy Dill.

A little web-based research, coupled with my own experience, leads me to believe that Salt and Vinegar Ruffles chips have been discontinued. The official Ruffles website makes no mention of them:

Ruffles® potato chips are available in a variety of mouth-watering flavours to deliver the ultimate flavour experience. Available in BBQ, All Dressed, Sour Cream & Onion, Sour Cream & Bacon, Sour Cream & Cheddar, Lightly Salted, Thick Cut Au Gratin and Thick Cut Creamy Dill flavours!

Isn’t Salt and Vinegar a staple chip flavour? What’s going on here?

I’ll take Salt and Vinegar over Lightly Salted or Creamy Dill any day.