At the time potatoes were peeled and sliced by hand. By 1934, Lay had six snack food routes and was well on his way to becoming a major distributor for an Atlanta potato chip manufacturer. Later Lay's potato chips became the first successfully marketed national brand. .
Between 1908 and 1926, small potato chip manufacturers began springing up in the eastern part of the U.S. in Ohio, Massachusetts, Illinois and Pennsylvania. By 1921 companies spread to the west in California. By 1928, potato chips became a snack food item purchased in stores rather than a restaurant item as in its beginnings.
The long term economic impact of the potato chip is reflected in the success of multiple chip manufacturing companies. Potato chips are America's favorite snack food and to please consumer tastes, potato chips and other snacks such as pretzels and cheese curls are now available in a variety of flavors. There are many leading potato chip companies, among them are: Cape Cod Potato Chips, Jay's Potato Chips, and Lay's Potato Chips. Marten's Potato Chips Old Dutch, Ruffle Potato Chips and Pringles P. Chips.
Potato chip manufacturing has provided employment in several areas such as factory production, production and printing of boxes and bags, advertising, and shipping. It has provided profits for stores and vendors who sell snacks at sport games, fairs, and recreational facilities. .
Potato chips are second to frozen french fries as the important products of processed potatoes. " Sales of potatoes for producing ships and shoestring potatoes approach $50 million a year- Potato chips contribute significantly as a food product in this country. .
The invention of the potato chip has had a great effect on the technology of the production of chips in terms of peeling potatoes, packaging chips and frying of potatoes.
Initially when potato chips were invented in 1853, they were made for a small number of individuals and potatoes were hand peeled for restaurant dining.
