Zapp's facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Food |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Ron Zappe |
| Headquarters | , |
| Parent | Utz Quality Foods |
Zapp's is a popular brand of potato chips made in the United States. These chips are special because they are kettle-cooked. This means they are cooked in small batches, making them extra crunchy. Zapp's chips are also cooked in peanut oil, which gives them a unique flavor. Many other chip companies use vegetable oil. Zapp's is known for its bold flavors, often inspired by the Cajun culture of Louisiana.
Contents
The Story of Zapp's Chips
How Zapp's Got Started
Zapp's was founded by a man named Ron Zappe. He started the company in 1985. Before making chips, Ron worked with pumps and other equipment for oil fields. His earlier businesses faced tough times in the 1980s. After this, he moved to Louisiana and decided to start a potato chip company.
Ron Zappe's first chip was called "Cajun Crawtator." It was introduced in 1985 and was the first spicy Cajun chip in the country. Zapp's also made chips for sports teams. For example, "Tiger Tators" were the first food product officially allowed by Louisiana State University. They also sold "Who Dat?" chips to honor the New Orleans Saints football team.
Popular Flavors and Growth
One of Zapp's most popular flavors is "Voodoo." This flavor was created in 2008 by Kevin Holden, who was a manager at the company. Over the years, Zapp's added many other exciting flavors. These include "Spicy Cajun Crawtator," "Sour Cream and Creole Onion," and "Cajun Dill Gator-tators." They also have "Hotter 'N Hot Jalapeño," "Mesquite BBQ," and "Voodoo" chips. Sometimes, they even make special limited edition chips, like for Mardi Gras.
Zapp's also grew by buying other chip companies. In 1993, they bought the Dirty Chip Company. In 2006, they bought the California Chip Company. Ron Zappe and his chips became quite famous. He even appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1997. The chips were also featured in national magazines like People and newspapers like The Wall Street Journal.
Changes for Zapp's
Ron Zappe, the founder, passed away in 2010. In 2011, the Zapp's company was sold to another food company called Utz Quality Foods. Utz Quality Foods is based in Pennsylvania. Zapp's now operates as a part of Utz. This means Zapp's is a "subsidiary" of Utz, like a smaller company owned by a bigger one. Even though it's part of Utz, Zapp's chips still keep their unique flavors and crunchy style.
