SALEM, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--It’s hard to believe that Kettle Brand made its first batch of all natural, flavorful kettle-cooked potato chips nearly 30 years ago. To usher in this milestone the brand is bringing back four of its favorite retired flavors for a limited time: Red Chili, Jalapeño Jack, Salsa with Mesquite and Cheddar Beer.
The return of these four classics has long been requested by die-hard Kettle Brand lovers. They will also be delicious finds for both those who discovered the brand during its rapid growth over the past 10 years, as well as new customers trying Kettle Brand products for the first time. The collection will be on store shelves beginning in August and will disappear again next summer.
Carolyn Ottenheimer, Kettle Brand’s Chief Flavor Architect, has been developing the brand’s recipes for more than 13 years and is behind some of its biggest sellers, from Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper to Sweet Onion. She said limiting the choices to four was difficult.
“Reflecting on 30 years was a great reminder of how flavor innovation is so rooted in everything we do at Kettle Brand,” said Ottenheimer. “Looking back now, it’s easy to see how we’ve often been ahead of our time, on the cusp of culinary trends hitting American culture. Our limited batch collection is only a small selection from the more than 40 flavors introduced over three decades.”
The collection begins with the brand’s first flavored chip and ends with a fan-chosen favorite:
- Red Chili –Introduced in 1982 after Unsalted and Lightly Salted, this flavor mirrors the taste of sriracha sauce combined with a vinegar tang and Cayenne pepper for a searing red chili heat. While it may have launched ahead of its time, this chip is making an on-trend comeback with the flavors and foods of today.
- Jalapeño Jack – Originally debuted in 1989, this flavor not only has a visual resemblance to a slice of Pepper Jack cheese, but has the same creamy, salty Jack cheese base mixed with the spice of red and green peppers and a strong jalapeño flavor.
- Salsa with Mesquite – First launched in 1999, vocal fans have long mourned this favorite’s absence. Tomatoes, bell peppers, onions and garlic blend with the bright flavor of lime to create an unmatched combination that’s sweet, smoky and salty.
- Cheddar Beer – After debuting as a fan pick during the brand’s first People’s Choice vote in 2005, this flavor earned a cult following. A combination of tangy sharp cheese with malty beer notes forms a perfect balance of smooth and salty flavors.
The four classics are available in 5 oz. bags retailing for $2.79 in select natural food stores, while Jalapeño Jack and Red Chili will debut in 8.5 oz. bags and retail for $3.49 in grocery stores this fall. Beginning this month, the collection is also available online at BuyKettleChips.com.
Cooked in small batches in pure, all natural oils under the watchful eye of dedicated chip cooks, Kettle Brand Chips pack a hearty and satisfying crunch. The 30th Birthday collection and all Kettle Brand products are made with a Natural Promise – all natural ingredients, no trans fats, no artificial colors or flavors and no preservatives. Kettle Brand products are made with Non-GMO ingredients and it’s the first and only potato chip brand to be verified by the Non-GMO Project.
About Kettle Brand®
Kettle Brand is a pioneer and one of the leaders in the premium kettle-cooked category. With 24 current flavors and five different lines - Original, Baked, Krinkle Cut™, Organic and the newest, 40 Percent Reduced Fat - it produces more kettle-cooked chip flavors and varieties than any other brand in the U.S. The company also launched a tortilla chip line with six different flavors in 2010, Kettle Brand® TIAS! With manufacturing sites in Salem, Ore., Beloit, Wis. and Norwich, U.K., Kettle Brand is distributed throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Western Europe and several countries in Asia.
Kettle Brand is part of Diamond Foods, which is based in San Francisco. Diamond Foods is an innovative packaged food company focused on building, acquiring and energizing brands, including Kettle Brand®Chips, Emerald® snack nuts, Pop Secret® popcorn, and Diamond of California® culinary and snack nuts. The company’s products are distributed in a wide range of stores where snacks and culinary nuts are sold.
Corporate website: www.diamondfoods.com
Consumer websites: www.kettlebrand.com, www.emeraldnuts.com, www.popsecret.com
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