Route 11 Potato Chips
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Snack food |
| Founded | January 1, 1992 in Middletown, Virginia, United States |
| Founder | Sarah Cohen |
| Headquarters | Mount Jackson, Virginia , United States |
Area served | Mid-Atlantic United States |
| Products | Kettle-cooked potato chips |
Route 11 Potato Chips is a United States-based producer and brand specializing in kettle-cooked potato chips, headquartered in Mount Jackson, Virginia, situated within the Shenandoah Valley. This company operates within the competitive landscape of Mid-Atlantic snack producers, alongside rivals like Martin's Potato Chips and Utz Brands.
History
Established in 1992 by Sarah Cohen in Middletown, Virginia, the company took its name from the nearby U.S. Route 11. In 2008, production was relocated to Mount Jackson, where it continues to operate.
In 2013, Route 11 collaborated with Ben & Jerry's to develop the Capitol Chill ice cream flavor, which incorporated the brand’s Sweet Potato chips as a key ingredient.
Amid supply chain challenges caused by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Route 11 initiated construction of four storage tanks for sunflower oil reserves in June 2022 to safeguard this essential component. The initiative, costing roughly $50,000, was partially supported by a $25,000 grant from Virginia's Agriculture and Forest Industry Development fund. The tanks were finalized in August, and the company also investigated sourcing sunflower oil from farms located near Richmond, Virginia and in North Carolina.
Factory and production
The manufacturing plant for Route 11 Potato Chips is positioned at 11 Edwards Way, conveniently near both Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 11, close to Shenandoah Caverns. The facility includes a public lobby where customers can buy products, sample various chip flavors, and watch the production process firsthand.
Potatoes are mainly procured from farms in Virginia and North Carolina. Certain seasonal offerings incorporate varieties such as Yukon Gold and sweet potato. The plant’s output reaches approximately 600 pounds of chips every hour.
Flavors
Route 11 features a lineup of eleven distinct chip flavors:
- Lightly Salted – classic lightly salted option
- Barbeque – seasoned with barbecue spices
- Chesapeake Crab – infused with a Mid-Atlantic crab seasoning
- Dill Pickle – vinegar-enhanced to deliver dill pickle flavor
- Salt & Pepper – seasoned with Appalachian salt and cracked black pepper
- Salt & Vinegar – traditional salt and vinegar taste
- Sour Cream & Chive – reminiscent of French onion dip
- Sweet Potato – seasonal chips made from sweet potatoes
- Yukon Gold – seasonal variety using Yukon Gold potatoes
- No Salt – unsalted kettle chips, not available for individual sale
- Mama Zuma's Revenge – spicy habanero-flavored option