Kettle Foods facts for kids
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A bag of sea salt and vinegar-flavored Kettle potato chips
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| Type | Potato chips |
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| Owner | Campbell Soup (2018–present) |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 1978 (as N.S. Khalsa Company) |
| Markets | United States, Canada, Europe, Middle East |
| Previous owners |
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Kettle Foods, Inc. is an American company that makes potato chips. Their main office is in Salem, Oregon, in the United States. They also have a big office in Norwich, United Kingdom, which handles their business in Europe and the Middle East. As of 2006, Kettle Foods was the biggest brand in the U.S. for "natural" potato chips.
The company started in 1978. It was first called "N.S. Khalsa Company" by its founder, Cameron Healy. Over the years, Kettle Foods has been owned by different companies. In 2006, Lion Capital bought it. Then, in 2010, Diamond Foods became the owner. Later, in 2016, Snyder's-Lance bought Diamond Foods. Finally, in March 2018, Campbell Soup bought Snyder's-Lance, which included Kettle Foods.
The Story of Kettle Foods
How Kettle Foods Started
Cameron Healy started the company in 1978. It was first known as the "N.S. Khalsa Company." They made their very first potato chips in 1982.
Growing to the UK
In 1988, after a trip to the UK, the company's founder decided to open a branch there. Kettle Foods set up its UK office in a former shoe factory in Norwich, England. Five years later, in 1993, they moved to a new, bigger factory on the edge of Norwich.
Green Energy Efforts
Kettle Foods cares about the environment. In 2003, they put in the largest solar power system in the Pacific Northwest at their Salem factory. This helped them use more green energy to make their chips.
New Factories and Awards
In September 2007, Kettle Foods opened a second factory in the U.S. This new factory was in Beloit, Wisconsin. It was special because it was the first food manufacturing plant to get a "gold certification" from the LEED program. This award means the building was designed and built to be very environmentally friendly.
Changes in Ownership
In 2006, a British investment group called Lion Capital LLP bought Kettle Foods. Later, in February 2010, Diamond Foods bought Kettle Foods for $615 million. Diamond Foods also owns other popular brands like Pop Secret popcorn. This sale was completed in March 2010.
Kettle Chips Around the World
Beyond the US and UK
The Kettle Foods office in the UK helps send Kettle products to many other countries. They work with different companies to sell their chips in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. You can find Kettle chips in countries like Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, and many more.
It's good to know that Kettle Foods is not connected to the "Kettle Chip" brand sold in Australia. That brand is owned by a different company called Snack Brands Australia.
About Kettle Potato Chips
What Makes Them Special
Kettle Foods is famous for its potato chips, which are known as "all-natural." This means they use simple ingredients. Their potato chips are cooked in special oils like safflower, sunflower, or canola oil. These oils are pressed from seeds. The company has even held contests in the past to let people suggest new chip flavors!
Simple Ingredients
As of 2016, the most basic Kettle chip flavor, "Sea Salt," had only three main ingredients: potatoes, safflower and/or sunflower and/or canola oil, and sea salt. Other flavors might include things like natural flavors, spices, citric acid, and yeast extract.
Popular Flavors
Kettle Foods offers many different potato chip flavors. Here are some of them as of 2025:
United States Flavors
- Apple Cider Vinegar (Made with Avocado Oil)
- Backyard Barbeque
- Chamoy (Limited Edition)
- Dill Pickle (Krinkle Cut)
- Farmstand Ranch
- Habanero Lime (Krinkle Cut)
- Himalayan Sea Salt (Air Fried)
- Honey Dijon
- Jalapeño
- Jalapeño (Air Fried)
- Parmesan Garlic
- Pepperoncini
- Pink Salt
- Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper (Krinkle Cut)
- Sea Salt
- Sea Salt & Vinegar
- Sea Salt & Vinegar (Air Fried)
- Sea Salt Pink Peppercorn (Made with Avocado Oil)
- Special Sauce (Made with Avocado Oil)
- Texas BBQ (Air Fried)
- Truffle & Sea Salt (Krinkle Cut)
- Unsalted
United Kingdom Flavors
- Crispy Bacon & Maple Syrup
- Gressingham Duck (Plum Sauce and Spring onion)
- Jalapeño Chilli
- Lightly Salted
- Mature Cheddar & Red Onion
- No Added Salt
- Sea Salt with Crushed Black Peppercorns
- Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar
- Smoky Barbecue
- Sour Cream and Onion
- Spicy Chilli
- Steakhouse Barbecue
- Sweet Chilli (& Sour Cream)
Europe and Middle East Flavors (as of 2013)
- Sea Salt
- Honey Barbecue
- Sweet Chilli & Sour Cream
- Sour Cream & Sweet Onion
- Sea Salt, Rosemary & Garlic
- Crispy Bacon & Maple Syrup
- Mature Cheddar & Red Onion
- Sea Salt and Balsamic Vinegar
- Sea Salt & Crushed Black Pepper
- Chilli with Jalapeño & Red Chillies
