Humpty Dumpty Potato Chip Company, Inc. was founded in 1947 in Scarborough, Maine, by George Robinson and Norman Cole12. The company quickly became known for its unique flavors, including ketchup-flavored and sour-cream-and-clam-flavored chips2.
The history of Humpty Dumpty chips is marked by several ownership changes:
In February 1989, Borden, Inc. acquired the company2.
In January 2000, it was sold to the Canadian firm Small Fry and formally adopted the name Humpty Dumpty Snack Foods Inc2.
In 2006, Old Dutch Foods, a Minnesota-based snack food company, acquired Humpty Dumpty in a takeover bid worth C$26.7 million26.
After the Old Dutch Foods acquisition, some significant changes occurred:
In the USA, Old Dutch Foods kept the Humpty Dumpty label and continued selling all their chip flavors2.
In Canada, the Humpty Dumpty potato chip line was rebranded as "Old Dutch," while the "Humpty Dumpty" name was retained for other snacks2.
Humpty Dumpty was known for its variety of potato chip flavors, including:
Regular, BBQ, Ketchup, Dill Pickle, Salt and Vinegar, Roast Chicken, Sour Cream and Onion, Smokin' Bacon, and a St-Hubert rotisserie chicken flavor2.
Their ridged chip line, called Ripples, featured flavors like Regular, Buffalo Wing, BBQ & Cheddar, Au Gratin, and All-Dressed2.
Humpty Dumpty chips became a household name in Maine, often found in convenience and grocery stores throughout the state1. The brand was particularly popular at family gatherings, barbecues, reunions, and birthday parties1.
Today, while the original Maine-based company has changed hands, the Humpty Dumpty brand continues to be sold in New England, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, maintaining its legacy as a beloved regional snack2.