Wachusett Potato Chip Company

Wachusett Potato Chip Company is a regional American snack-food manufacturer based in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Founded in 1937 by Polish-American brothers Theofil and Stephen “Sam” Krysiak, the company takes its name from nearby Mount Wachusett and developed a long-standing identity as a New England potato-chip producer. It began in Clinton, Massachusetts, before moving to Fitchburg in 1947 after acquiring a decommissioned Fitchburg County jail building and its grounds. The former institutional property was converted into a manufacturing and distribution site and remained the center of the business for decades. Over time, Wachusett expanded and renovated the Fitchburg property to support production, storage, and distribution. Its last major renovation during the 1980s included air conditioning for the manufacturing facility. The company also obtained additional distribution-storage capacity in Sterling, Massachusetts. This infrastructure enabled Wachusett to serve both branded retail customers and institutional or supermarket clients. The brand’s product range has included a broad selection of potato-chip flavors, among them sour cream and onion, ketchup, salt and vinegar, no-salt-added, barbecue, honey barbecue, and ripple chips. Flavors that achieved sustained consumer appeal continued in production. Before its acquisition by Utz, Wachusett also distributed cheese curls and popcorn under its own label. Its products were sold through regional and national retail chains including Walmart, Hannaford, Stop & Shop, and Price Chopper, as well as through local restaurants, delis, and other food-service outlets. Private-label production was an important part of the business. Wachusett manufactured potato chips for supermarket programs, including Price Chopper, and for food-service distributors such as Sysco. This combination of regional branding, contract manufacturing, and food-service supply gave the company a broader commercial role than its consumer-facing brand alone suggested. Following the death of his father in 1960, Edward Krysiak assumed leadership and guided the company for approximately 51 years. During his tenure, the business modernized its facilities and maintained its Fitchburg base. In 2011, Wachusett was sold to Utz Quality Foods, a Hanover, Pennsylvania-based snack manufacturer. Utz acquired the Fitchburg facility and operated Wachusett as a subsidiary while retaining approximately 50 employees, including members of the Krysiak family. At the time of the transaction, Wachusett was described as the last remaining independent potato-chip company in New England, a region that had once supported many more producers. In April 2024, Utz sold Wachusett, together with a facility in Berlin, Pennsylvania, to Our Home, a New Jersey-based snack manufacturer whose portfolio includes Popchips. The transaction included the Fitchburg plant and was reported as having a value of $18.5 million. Our Home agreed to continue manufacturing Utz-brand products for a period under a co-manufacturing arrangement. Utz stated that the transaction would not change the Wachusett brand, which it described as a long-standing local favorite. Wachusett therefore remains an active regional snack brand under new ownership, with its historical Massachusetts manufacturing connection continuing to be central to its identity.

Wachusett Potato Chip Company was established in 1937 in Clinton, Massachusetts, by brothers Theofil and Stephen “Sam” Krysiak, Polish-American entrepreneurs who named the business after Mount Wachusett. The company’s early development placed it within the longstanding New England tradition of independent snack manufacturers serving local grocery stores, restaurants, and distributors. In 1947, Wachusett moved to Fitchburg after purchasing a decommissioned Fitchburg County jail and its surrounding grounds. The company adapted the former jail property for food manufacturing and distribution. The site became a defining part of the brand’s history and remained in use for many decades. As production and warehousing requirements increased, Wachusett made successive additions and renovations. The final major renovation was completed in the 1980s and included the installation of air conditioning in the manufacturing area. The company also acquired distribution storage in nearby Sterling, Massachusetts. Wachusett built its business around potato chips sold under its own name, while also supplying private-label and food-service customers. Its product portfolio expanded across conventional and regional flavor preferences, including sour cream and onion, ketchup, salt and vinegar, no-salt-added, barbecue, honey barbecue, and ripple varieties. Some of the company’s other branded snack products included cheese curls and popcorn. Retail distribution reached chains such as Walmart, Hannaford, Stop & Shop, and Price Chopper, alongside local restaurants and delis. Private-label manufacturing for supermarkets and supply relationships with food-service distributors such as Sysco were significant components of the company’s output. Edward Krysiak assumed control after his father’s death in 1960 and served as the company’s principal leader for roughly 51 years. He oversaw modernization of the business while preserving its Fitchburg location. By 2011, Wachusett was characterized as the last independent potato-chip company remaining in New England, a notable position in a region that had once had 14 producers at its peak. On October 19, 2011, Hanover, Pennsylvania-based Utz Quality Foods acquired Wachusett. The transaction included the 56,000-square-foot Fitchburg facility. Utz retained the company’s approximately 50 employees, including members of the Krysiak family, and operated Wachusett as a subsidiary. The sale reflected the pressures facing smaller regional food manufacturers while also preserving the brand’s production presence in Massachusetts. In April 2024, Utz sold Wachusett to Our Home, a New Jersey snack company whose brands include Popchips. The transaction included Wachusett’s Fitchburg facility and another Utz plant in Berlin, Pennsylvania, and was reported as valued at $18.5 million. Our Home and Utz arranged for continued production of Utz-brand products for a limited period under a co-manufacturing agreement. Utz said the transaction would not affect Wachusett’s brand identity or availability. The company thus entered a new ownership phase while retaining its long-running association with Fitchburg and New England snack foods.

• 2024

  Sold to Our Home

  [1]Wachusett Potato Chip Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Utz sold Wachusett and its Fitchburg facility to Our Home in April 2024.

• 2011

  Acquired by Utz

  [1]Wachusett Potato Chip Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Utz Quality Foods purchased Wachusett and its 56,000-square-foot Fitchburg facility on October 19, 2011.

• 1980

  Major facility renovation

  [1]Wachusett Potato Chip Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Wachusett completed its last large-scale renovation during the 1980s, including air conditioning for the manufacturing facility.

• 1960

  Edward Krysiak takes over leadership

  [1]Wachusett Potato Chip Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Edward Krysiak assumed control of the business following his father’s death and later led a long period of modernization.

• 1947

  Operations move to Fitchburg

  [1]Wachusett Potato Chip Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company purchased a decommissioned Fitchburg County jail and converted the property into a snack-manufacturing and distribution facility.

• 1937

  Company founded in Clinton, Massachusetts

  [1]Wachusett Potato Chip Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Theofil and Stephen “Sam” Krysiak founded Wachusett Potato Chip Company in Clinton, Massachusetts.

A locally rooted New England snack brand combining traditional potato-chip production, regional retail distribution, and private-label manufacturing.

• Potato chips · 1937

  Wachusett Potato Chips

  The company’s core product line consists of packaged potato chips distributed through supermarkets, local retailers, restaurants, delis, and food-service channels. Reported flavors have included sour cream and onion, ketchup, salt and vinegar, no-salt-added, barbecue, honey barbecue, and ripple chips. Flavors with broad and sustained appeal have continued to be produced under the Wachusett name.

• Contract-manufactured snacks

  Private-label potato chips

  Wachusett has manufactured potato chips for supermarket private-label programs and food-service customers. Known customers and channels have included Price Chopper Supermarkets and distributors such as Sysco. This business extended the company’s production role beyond its own consumer brand.

• Extruded cheese snack

  Cheese curls

  Before its sale to Utz, Wachusett distributed cheese curls under its own label as part of a broader snack portfolio beyond potato chips.

• Popcorn

  Popcorn

  Wachusett also distributed popcorn under its own label before the 2011 acquisition by Utz, complementing its potato-chip and cheese-curl offerings.

• 2024

  Sale from Utz to Our HomeM&A

  Background

  Utz reorganized its manufacturing footprint and divested Wachusett together with another production facility.

  Action taken

  Our Home acquired Wachusett’s Fitchburg facility and the Berlin, Pennsylvania facility in a transaction reported as valued at $18.5 million.

  Aftermath

  Our Home became Wachusett’s owner. Utz stated that the transaction would not change the Wachusett brand, and the parties arranged temporary co-manufacturing of Utz-brand products.

  Reported transaction value. $18.5 million (April 2024 sale)

  Source

• 2011

  Sale to Utz Quality FoodsM&A

  Background

  After decades as a family-led regional manufacturer, Wachusett sought a buyer that would preserve operations in Fitchburg.

  Action taken

  Utz acquired Wachusett on October 19, 2011, paying $1.7 million for the company’s 56,000-square-foot facility and retaining approximately 50 employees.

  Aftermath

  Wachusett operated as an Utz subsidiary, while the brand and its Massachusetts production base continued.

  Purchase price for the Wachusett facility. $1.7 million (2011 acquisition)

  Source

• 1947

  Relocation to a converted Fitchburg facilityStrategy

  Background

  The company needed a larger and more permanent manufacturing and distribution base as it developed its regional snack business.

  Action taken

  Wachusett purchased a decommissioned county jail property in Fitchburg and converted it for food production and distribution.

  Aftermath

  The Fitchburg site became the company’s long-term manufacturing home and remained associated with the brand through subsequent ownership changes.

  Source

1. 1Wachusett Potato Chip Companyen.wikipedia.org