Kettle Foods
Kettle Foods is an American manufacturer of kettle-cooked potato chips, founded in Salem, Oregon in 1977. As the largest natural potato chip brand in the United States, Kettle Foods produces hand-cooked chips sold across the US, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East.
The Story
Cameron Healy founded Kettle Foods as the N.S. Khalsa Company in Salem, Oregon in 1977, selling natural foods from a van before producing the first all-natural, hand-cooked potato chips in 1982. The company quickly gained a following for its thick-cut, small-batch kettle cooking method that set it apart from mass-produced snacks.
The company's UK expansion into Norwich in 1988 jump-started international growth, and Kettle Foods eventually became the top-selling natural chip brand in the United States, built on a reputation for authentic ingredients and bold flavors.
After ownership passed through Lion Capital, Diamond Foods, and Snyder's-Lance, Campbell Soup Company acquired the brand in 2018, bringing Kettle Foods under one of the world's largest food portfolios.
Key Facts & Metrics
Products
Classic Sea Salt Potato Chips
The original all-natural kettle-cooked potato chips, hand-cooked in batches with just a kiss of sea salt. Cut thick for a satisfying crunch and made with real potatoes since 1982.
Sea Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips
A bold and tangy twist on the classic. These all-natural kettle-cooked chips balance tongue-puckering vinegar with a hint of sea salt, delivering the same thick-cut crunch Kettle Brand is known for.
Backyard Barbeque Potato Chips
Smoky, spicy, tangy, and sweet — all in one chip. These all-natural kettle-cooked chips are flavored to perfection with a bold barbeque taste that makes them the go-to snack for cookouts and backyard gatherings.
Company Timeline
1977 — Founded as N.S. Khalsa Company
Cameron Healy founded the N.S. Khalsa Company in Salem, Oregon, selling natural foods from a van to health stores along the West Coast.
1982 — First Kettle Chips produced
Inspired by thick-cut Hawaiian chips, Healy taught himself kettle-cooking and produced the first all-natural, hand-cooked Kettle Chips in Salem, Oregon.
1988 — Opened UK factory in Norwich
Kettle Foods opened a UK factory in a converted shoe factory in Norwich, England, launching into the competitive British 'crisps' market.
2006 — Sold to Lion Capital
Healy sold Kettle Foods to British private equity group Lion Capital for an estimated $280 million to $320 million.
2018 — Acquired by Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup acquired Snyder's-Lance, bringing Kettle Foods under its ownership alongside other snack brands.
