Herr Foods history

In 1947 Herr's Potato Chip Company outgrew its Lancaster location, and Herr took over an empty tobacco barn on his family's farm.

The old tobacco barn no longer suited the business, and in 1949 Herr began renting a 3,600-square-foot bakery in West Willow, Pennsylvania.

In 1951, Jim purchased 37 acres of land and built a 4,500 square foot plant in Nottingham, PA. Herr Foods was founded as a family business and continues that tradition today.

Herr raised money from family and friends and secured a bank loan, and in 1952 acquired 37 acres of land in Nottingham, Pennsylvania, and built a 4,500-square-foot plant that included the company's first automated cooker.

By 1956, just ten years after its inception, Herr's®Potato Chips was well-established with an expanding customer base.

One attempt to address this problem was the 1963 introduction of the 20-ounce cardboard barrel, suggested by a packaging salesman.

In 1964, Herr's® embarked on a packaging venture that helped revolutionize the company's sales.

In 1968, the company operated 35 sales routes out of Nottingham and five from New Jersey.

Cheese curls were introduced in 1976, followed two years later by popcorn.

The company had plenty of land, about 1,000 acres in all, that it had acquired around the plant, and a large portion of that property was set aside for the raising of cattle. It was also during this period that the company adopted the Herr's Foods name (1984) and established the Herr Angus Farm.

In 1988, Herr's expands snack sales internationally and is now available in over 37 countries around the world.

In 1989 the company added a 15,000-square-foot Visitors Center next to the plant, which included a 140-seat theater.

A third brother, Gene Herr, became "chief potato buyer." Their father, well into his 70s, eased into retirement in 2000 by turning over the chief executive officer position to James M. Herr in 2000.

In 2002, for example, the company introduced Thick Cut Potato Chips, New Old Fashioned Butter Sticks, and Changing Cheddar Magic Popcorn.

He stayed on as chairman of the board until 2005 when he relinquished that title to his son as well.

In 2008, a second plant is built to house the new extruded snack line and baked lines, greatly increasing the capacity in these areas.

In 2013, Good Natured Selects is introduced.

Herr’s purchases a portion of Silk City Snacks in Clifton, New Jersey. (The deal is finalized in 2015.)