November 28, 2011

Centre for Business and Economic Development, Collingwood

Back in 1987, before healthy eating had become a hot topic, potato farmer Vickie Kerr of New Lowell was not happy with they way chip companies were processing her potatoes.  She knew there had to be a better way. 

She decided she’d like to make her own chips, and wrote a business plan for “a new way to cook potato chips to maximize nutrition.”

She approached The Centre for Business in Collingwood and a loan was approved for $50,000.  By 1989, Miss Vickie’s Chips repaid their loan to the CFDC.  At that time, their sales were $3.8 million.  The company had 200 employees and several plants across Canada.

In 1993, Miss Vickie had an offer from a multi-national she could not refuse.  Hostess Potato Chips purchased Miss Vickie’s company and Miss Vickie’s premium kettle-cooked chips in an ever-increasing variety of flavours continue to line store shelves.