Better Made Potato Chips: Made in Michigan Since 1930

Before Detroit was known for the automobile industry, they were kings in another field: POTATO CHIPS.

No other city, no other state has produced more brands of potato chips than Detroit. There were once a whoppin’ 25-30 different potato chip brands, made by over twenty different companies. Some of them were:

ADAMS
BE-MO
CRISPY FLAKE
EVERKRISP
HEINTZ
HOME
HOPALONG CASSIDY
KRUN-CHEE
MADE-RITE
MANHATTAN
MELLO CRISP
MISTER CRISP
NEW ERA
PARADISE
PARAMOUNT
ROSEBUD
SUPERIOR
TWIN PINES
UNCLE RAY’S*
VITA BOY
WILSON’S
WOLVERINE
YANKEE

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But the only vintage Detroit potato chip that still hangs in there, still being made, still available, still tasty, are the ones produced by Better Made (Uncle Ray's is not vintage...yet).

The Better Made Snack Food Company kicked off in Detroit in 1930. Throughout the 1930s, Better Made had retail shops all through Detroit, with many of them sitting next to movie theaters before concession stands became a staple in every movie house, thus helping to cement Better Made as the area’s leading 'tater chip. Better Made processes well over sixty million pounds of potatoes a year, transforming them thar 'taters into chips.

Keep in mind, Better Made did not invent the potato chip; they were created in 1853 and only became a ‘fad’ when they were used as snacks during World War I.

The origin of Better Made lies with the Best Maid potato chip company, founded in 1929. Best Maid eventually was re-named New Era and one of the original founders left the company to form his own in 1930. At first it was named the Cross & Peters Company, but changed in 1934 to ‘Better Made’ as a takeoff of the previously-mentioned ‘Best Maid’.

Their home business moved to East McDougall Street where they really took off. In the 1940s during World War II, they moved to Woodward Avenue.

After World War II, they moved to Gratiot Avenue between Harper & French where they remain to this day.

After decades of success, it wasn’t until 1973 when Better Made started making their first flavored chips – the first one being barbecue – in order to meet their competition. In 1995, Uncle Ray's potato chips made its debut and still survives.

Out of all the other vintage Detroit potato chips, Better Made is the only one that has not fallen by the wayside..