Rishy Crisps was founded in the 1950s in Lancashire. The company moved into a former woollen mill in Great Harwood in the early 1960s. It was later acquired by another Lancashire snacks company, Burtons. There was possibly a factory fire some time in the 1960s: “I remember a big fire there in the 1960’s, theContinue reading “Rishy Crisps”
Category Archives: History
Hedgehog-flavour Crisps: the first novelty flavour?
Hedgehog flavoured crisps were created in 1981 by Phillip Lewis, landlord of the Vaults public house in Welshpool. He created them as a joke, in part inspired by a Gypsy tale of eating baked hedgehog. Just to be sure no-one worried about actual hedgehogs, the back of the packet had a disclaimer: “Savour all theContinue reading “Hedgehog-flavour Crisps: the first novelty flavour?”
Smith’s beautiful factory buildings
Smith’s Crisps started life in a garage behind the Cricklewood Crown pub. Frank Smith and his wife cooked the crisps and sold them to the pub clientele. Soon Smith was selling them across London from his pony and trap, and within a year, they had taken on 12 full-time staff to keep up with demand.Continue reading “Smith’s beautiful factory buildings”
Chipmunk Crisps
Chipmunk Crisps were made in Long Buckby in the 1970s. Chipmunk was famous for its Oxo flavour. We’ve found photos of Salt & Vinegar flavour too. We think there was a Tomato Sauce flavour. Can anyone verify that?
Tudor Crisps
Tudor Crisps was founded in Sunderland in 1947. They moved to Newcastle in 1961 when the brand was acquired by Smiths Crisps. Tudor became known for its unusual (at the time) choice of flavours including Tomato Ketchup, Hot Dog & Mustard, And Pickled Onion. Tudor’s packets were colour-coded: Cheese & Onion sold in blue packets,Continue reading “Tudor Crisps”
Golden Wonder
In 1962, Golden Wonder brought the Salt & Vinegar flavoured crisp to the British mainland, four years after Tayto’s gave the crisp-eating public their first taste of flavoured crisps. Salt & Vinegar consistently comes up as one of the top 2 most popular crisp flavours in the UK. Baked Bean Beef & Onion Cheese &Continue reading “Golden Wonder”
Mikesell’s: the original crisp producer
Mikesell’s claims to be the oldest potato chip company in the United States. In 2010, Mikesell’s celebrated 100 years of selling crisps. Original Himalayan Sea Salt & Vinegar No Salt Green Onion Honey Barbecue Barbecue Zesty Barbecue Mesquite Smoked Bacon Cheddar & Sour Cream Good’n Hot Sweet Chili
20 Varieties of Tayto’s… and Tayto’s
The information on this post has been updated. In 1954, Joe ‘Spud’ Murphy founded Tayto Crisps. He created the first flavoured crisp: Cheese & Onion, produced in a factory on Moore Street, Dublin. His technique became widely sought after by crisp manufacturers. Cheese & Onion flavour crisps have been popular ever since, and are consistentlyContinue reading “20 Varieties of Tayto’s… and Tayto’s”
29 flavours from Smiths
The Smiths Potato Crisps Company was the first to add seasoning to crisps, in 1920: a twist of salt, provided with their plain crisps, which were sold in and around London. They expanded into the Australian market in 1932, where the Smiths brand still thrives today. American Pulled Pork Barbecue BBQ Meatlovers Bovril Cheese &Continue reading “29 flavours from Smiths”
US first: Barbecue flavour crisps
The first flavoured crisps in the United States, barbecue flavour, were being manufactured and sold by 1954. Herr’s and Ley’s both produced crisps with that flavour in the 1950s. It was the only flavour available in the United States other than the conventional salted chip until the introduction of Sour Cream & Onion in theContinue reading “US first: Barbecue flavour crisps”
Museum of Crisps 