Snak King facts for kids
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| Corporation | |
| Industry | Snack food manufacturer |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Headquarters | City of Industry, CA, U.S. |
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Key people
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Barry C. Levin, Chairman/CEO |
| Revenue | Undisclosed |
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Number of employees
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950 |
Snak King is a company that makes yummy snack foods. It started in 1978 and is based in Industry, California. Snak King makes many different snacks. These include potato chips, tortilla chips, nuts, and popcorn. They make snacks for other companies (called private label) and also under their own brand names. Snak King is one of the biggest snack makers in the United States. They have about 950 employees. Their factories and warehouses cover a huge area, more than 600,000 square feet!
In December 2011, Snak King bought another snack company. This company was called C.J. Vitner Company. Vitner's was based in Chicago and also made and sold snack foods.
Contents
The Story of Snak King
How Snak King Began
Snak King started in 1978. Three different groups of investors helped create it. One group made pork rinds. Another group was a food distributor. The third group owned a factory. Mike Levin was one of the first investors. His son, Barry Levin, is now the company's chairman and chief executive officer. Barry Levin joined Snak King in 1979. Soon after, he bought one-third of the company. Over the next five years, he bought the rest of the company.
Growing Bigger and Better
In 1982, Snak King moved to a much larger building. It went from a small 1200-square-foot place in downtown Los Angeles. The new building was 50,000 square feet! That same year, the company launched its popular El Sabroso brand. In 1984, they started making popcorn and caramel corn. Later, they added cheese puffs and cheese curls to their snacks.
In 1994, Snak King moved again. This time, they went to Industry, California. In 2000, Snak King bought some snack lines from another company. These included corn chips, popcorn, and other snacks from the West Coast brand Granny Goose.
Overcoming Challenges
In October 2004, heavy rain caused a big problem. The roof of their factory collapsed. It took Snak King three years to rebuild the facility. This rebuilding project cost more than $30 million.
The company grew a lot when it bought Vitner's in 2011. This purchase almost doubled Snak King's number of workers. It also greatly increased their factory space. Vitner's started way back in 1926. They make potato chips, tortilla chips, and other puffed snacks. Vitner's sells its own brand and also makes snacks for other companies. They deliver snacks to over 20 states. Their main delivery centers are in Chicago, Elk Grove Village, Illinois, and Merrillville, Indiana.
Snak King's Snack Brands
Snak King makes many different snacks. Here are some of their well-known brands:
- El Sabroso
- Granny Goose
- Jensen's Orchard
- Nutibles
- The Whole Earth
Awards and Recognition
Snak King and its leaders have won many awards for their business success.
In 2006, Snak King received two important awards. The Los Angeles Business Journal gave them the "Excellence in Business-Manufacturing" award. They also won "Snack Manufacturer of the Year" from Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery magazine.
In 2007, Barry Levin, the CEO, was honored. Ernst & Young named him "Entrepreneur of the Year." This award celebrates business leaders who create successful companies.
In 2008, the main leaders at Snak King received an award. Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery gave them the "Executives of the Year" award.
In 2011, Barry Levin received another big award. He was named "California State Small Business Person of the Year." He was also one of 18 small business "Champions of Change." These champions met with people from the White House Administration.
In 2013, Snak King won the "Business of the Year Award." This award came from the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership.
