In this Book
- Crunch!: A History of the Great American Potato Chip
- Book
- 2008
- Published by: University of Wisconsin Press
summary
The potato chip has been one of America's favorite snacks since its accidental origin in a nineteenth-century kitchen. Crunch! A History of the Great American Potato Chip tells the story of this crispy, salty treat, from the early sales of locally made chips at corner groceries, county fairs, and cafes to the mass marketing and corporate consolidation of the modern snack food industry.
Crunch! also uncovers a dark side of potato chip history, including a federal investigation of the snack food industry in the 1990s following widespread allegations of antitrust activity, illegal buyouts, and predatory pricing. In the wake of these "Great Potato Chip Wars," corporate snack divisions closed and dozens of family-owned companies went bankrupt. Yet, despite consolidation, many small chippers persist into the twenty-first century, as mom-and-pop companies and upstart "boutique" businesses serve both new consumers and markets with strong regional loyalties.
Illustrated with images of early snack food paraphernalia and clever packaging from the glory days of American advertising art, Crunch! is an informative tour of large and small business in America and the vicissitudes of popular tastes.
Crunch! also uncovers a dark side of potato chip history, including a federal investigation of the snack food industry in the 1990s following widespread allegations of antitrust activity, illegal buyouts, and predatory pricing. In the wake of these "Great Potato Chip Wars," corporate snack divisions closed and dozens of family-owned companies went bankrupt. Yet, despite consolidation, many small chippers persist into the twenty-first century, as mom-and-pop companies and upstart "boutique" businesses serve both new consumers and markets with strong regional loyalties.
Illustrated with images of early snack food paraphernalia and clever packaging from the glory days of American advertising art, Crunch! is an informative tour of large and small business in America and the vicissitudes of popular tastes.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Illustrations
- pp. ix-x
- Acknowledgments
- pp. xiii-xiv
- 1. The Great American Vegetable
- pp. 18-29
- 2. Creation Myths
- pp. 15-21
- 3. Bursting the Seams
- pp. 22-42
- 4. Storm Warning
- pp. 43-62
- 5. Full Combat
- pp. 63-83
- 6. Trust and Antitrust
- pp. 84-96
- 7. The Heartland:Ohio and Pennsylvania
- pp. 97-117
- 9. Everything Old Is New Again
- pp. 140-156
- Books Cited
- pp. 189-192
- Interviews
- pp. 193-196
Additional Information
ISBN
9780299227739
Related ISBN(s)
9780299227708, 9780299227746
MARC Record
OCLC
794702185
Pages
232
Launched on MUSE
2012-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No
Copyright
2017