Designer chippies on the rise
Kiwis are spending $150 million a year on potato chips with a growing market for specialty flavours.
Domestic sales of chips have grown by about 15 per cent each year over the past three, according to Potatoes New Zealand.
Its chief executive, Chris Claridge, said New Zealanders spent $157m on potato chips in 2015 – the equivalent of more than $30 a person.
When coupled with the $16m in exports, potato chips made up onefifth of the revenue for New Zealand’s potato industry, worth $814m.
But no longer are fans of the crispy snack content with the traditional flavours of ready salted, chicken, green onion, and salt and vinegar. Supermarket shelves are bulging with packets boasting flavours of chilli and lime, vintage cheddar, caramalised onion and balsamic vinegar, Greek tzatziki. Did anyone try the paua fritters with lemon wedges?
Claridge said the chip market is developing in a similar way to that seen with craft beer. ‘‘It’s very similar to the craft beer market. Craft crisps is developing, with multiple flavours. You get a lot of choice and a wide variety.’’
Claridge said volume had also grown over that period, which reflected trends worldwide.
‘‘That’s especially with the speciality flavours, particularly in the UK.’’
He was confident supply could keep up with rising demand.
‘‘We had a good season last season and we’re in the middle of the planting season now. The conditions are as good as they can get.’’
But Eta, the company that sells Spuds and Kettles chip varieties, has become so concerned it has scrapped all supermarket specials for an undisclosed period.
A spokesman confirmed the company, owned by Griffins, had made the move ’’in order to protect supply and maintain our quality standards’’.
Plans would not change ‘‘until we are confident that we have a robust forward supply of new season potatoes over the next few weeks,’’ he said.
Eta would not confirm exactly what had created its short supply of potatoes, citing only ‘‘variable conditions’’.
These could ‘‘have an impact on the availability and quality of potato stocks and the speed at which we can make chips’’.