Chester County has many favorites, whether it’s sports teams, convenience stores, or potato chips, writes Kalena Thomhave for The Keystone. 

In 1946, Jim Herr purchased a potato chip company for $1,750 at 21 years old, transforming the company into a Chester County-based success. Now, Herr’s makes on million pounds of potato chips each week. Here are some interesting facts about this beloved local company that has ignited the world.

Herr’s is the largest privately held and family-owned snack food company in the United States. Though the business started off small, it quickly boomed and started distributing snack foods to every state and 40 different countries, all while maintaining their roots. 

Herr’s is big on recycling. In 1983, Jim Herr started a cattle farm to help limit waste at the Herr’s plant. Instead of going to a landfill, a mixture of the rejected potato chips and pretzels is fed to the cows. 

The company was featured in The Office. In a season three episode, Dunder Mifflin employees Karen and Jim set out on a mission to find Karen her favorite Herr’s Salt and Vinegar chips after they sold out in the office’s vending machine. 

They have a mascot; a chipmunk named Chipper. He debuted in the 1980s, wearing his signature sneakers and red sweater with his name on it. He’s an important part of the factory tours.

The factory holds tours, where the public can see how the famous potato chips get made. On the tour, you can try hot and freshly made potato chips! 

Read more about how Herr’s got its start and what the company is up to today at The Keystone.  

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