Wachusett Potato Chip Company
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Snack food manufacturing |
| Founded | 1937 in Clinton, Massachusetts, United States |
| Founder | Theofil Krysiak, Stephen “Sam” Krysiak |
| Headquarters | Fitchburg, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Potato chips, cheese curls, popcorn |
Number of employees | 50 |
| Parent | Our Home (as of 2024) |
Wachusett Potato Chip Company was established in 1937 in Clinton, Massachusetts by Polish-American siblings Theofil and Stephen “Sam” Krysiak. In 1947, the business moved to Fitchburg after purchasing a former county jail, which was transformed into a production and distribution center. Over time, the company enhanced its facilities through various renovations, including a significant modernization in the 1980s that introduced air conditioning. Additionally, it expanded its storage capabilities by acquiring distribution space in Sterling, Massachusetts.
The company offered an extensive variety of potato chip flavors such as sour cream and onion, ketchup, salt and vinegar, no salt-added options, barbecue, honey barbecue, and ripple chips. Many of these popular varieties continue to be produced. Prior to being acquired by Utz, Wachusett also marketed cheese curls and popcorn under its own brand.
Wachusett’s products were available at prominent retailers including Wal-Mart, Hannaford, Stop and Shop, Price Chopper, as well as through local eateries and delicatessens. A notable share of its output was dedicated to private-label potato chips for grocery chains like Price Chopper and foodservice companies such as Sysco.
On October 19, 2011, Hanover, Pennsylvania-based Utz Quality Foods purchased Wachusett for $1.7 million. The acquisition included the Fitchburg manufacturing site spanning 56,000 square feet and retained the workforce of 50 employees, which featured members of the Krysiak family. Following the sale, Wachusett operated as a subsidiary under Utz.
At the time of this transaction, Wachusett stood as New England’s final independent potato chip manufacturer out of what was once a peak of fourteen such companies. Edward Krysiak, who managed the company for more than fifty years after his father’s passing in 1960, consistently modernized operations and sought a buyer dedicated to maintaining local ownership. Edward Krysiak died in 2022.
In April 2024, Utz divested Wachusett to Our Home, a snack producer based in New Jersey known for Popchips. The deal valued at $18.5 million encompassed the Fitchburg plant along with another Utz facility located in Berlin, Pennsylvania. Our Home will continue producing Utz-branded items under a co-manufacturing agreement. According to Kevin Brick, Vice President at Utz, there will be no alterations to the Wachusett brand following this transaction.