Better Made Potato Chips facts for kids
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| Industry | Chips |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1930 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Potato chips, corn chips, pork rinds, cheese curls, popcorn, pretzels, dips |
| Parent | Better Made Snack Foods, Inc. |
Better Made Potato Chips is a famous snack company from Detroit, Michigan. It was started in 1930 by two friends, Cross Moceri and Peter Cipriano. What began as a small business with just two people has grown a lot. Today, Better Made makes and sells snacks all over Michigan and in nearby states. Their main office is still in Detroit.
Contents
The Story of Better Made Chips
How It All Started
In 1930, two friends named Cross Moceri and Peter Cipriano bought a small potato chip business. They were immigrants from Sicily. They started their own company, called Cross & Peters Company. In 1934, they officially launched their snack brand, "Better Made."
Growing the Business
By 1937, the workers at Better Made formed a union. This helped them get better pay and working conditions. After World War II, the company needed more space. So, in 1955, they moved into a much bigger factory. This new factory was located on Gratiot Avenue.
New Flavors and Changes
Better Made introduced its first flavored chips in 1973. This new flavor was barbecue. A year later, around 1974, they added sour cream & onion chips. In 1994, Better Made joined with another chip company. This company was called Made-Rite Chip Company. This merger added more production lines and many new delivery routes.
A New Chapter
The founders, Cross Moceri and Peter Cipriano, passed away in the 1980s. Their families then took over the company. In 2003, the Moceri family's part of the company was bought out. The company's name changed to Better Made Snack Foods, Inc. That same year, the company's sales reached $36 million.
What Better Made Makes
Delicious Snacks
Better Made uses mostly potatoes grown in Michigan. They use these potatoes to make their chips. The only time they don't use Michigan potatoes is during the off-season. They cook their chips in 100% cottonseed oil. Each year, they make over 60 million pounds of potato chips!
Many Different Products
Better Made offers a wide variety of snacks. Their most popular product is potato chips. They come in many flavors, like plain, barbecue, sour cream & onion, Red Hot, and salt & vinegar.
They also make other tasty snacks, including:
- Corn chips
- Cheese curls and cheese puffs
- Pork rinds
- Popcorn
- Pretzels
- Dips
- Seasonal flavors like ketchup and sweet BBQ
Why Better Made Is Special
A Detroit Icon
Better Made is very important to the city of Detroit. It is the last chip brand from Detroit that is still around. Many years ago, there were many local snack companies. Better Made's yellow and red bags are famous in Detroit. People see them as a symbol of the city.
Featured in Books and TV
In 2015, a writer named Karen Dybis wrote a book about the company. The book is called Better Made in Michigan. It shares the brand's history. It also has old family photos and interviews. The Better Made factory was even shown on TV! It appeared in the final episode of the Comedy Central show Detroiters. Both the outside and inside of the factory were featured.
