Better Made Potato Chips
Snack chip brand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Better Made Potato Chips is a Detroit-based snack brand founded in 1930 by Cross Moceri and Peter Cipriano. Still headquartered on Gratiot Avenue in eastern Detroit, the company has evolved from a two-man operation to a regional snack institution distributing products across Michigan and parts of surrounding states.[1][2][3][4]
| |
| Industry | Chips |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1930 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Potato chips, corn chips, pork rinds, cheese curls, popcorn, pretzels, dips |
| Parent | Better Made Snack Foods, Inc. |
| Website | bettermade |
History
In 1930, Sicilian immigrants Cross Moceri and Peter Cipriano purchased a small potato-chip operation in east Detroit and founded the Cross & Peters Company. They officially launched the “Better Made” brand in 1934.[2][5]
By 1937, workers had unionized, increasing pay to 40 cents per hour and improving hours and working conditions.[6]
After World War II, the company moved into a 25,000-square-foot plant on Gratiot Avenue in 1955.[2]
In 1970, when New Era brand was discontinued by Frito Lay, Better Made bought the recipes, equipment and opened a new line.[6]
In 1973, Better Made introduced its first flavored chips—barbecue—followed by sour cream & onion around 1974.[6]
In 1994, the company merged with Bay City’s Made‑Rite Chip Company, adding three production lines and over 50 new delivery routes.[6]
After the founders’ deaths in the 1980s, ownership passed to their heirs. In 2003, the Moceri family's stake was bought out, and the company was renamed Better Made Snack Foods, Inc. The same year, sales reached $36 million.[1]
Products & Operations
Better Made primarily uses Michigan-grown potatoes (except during off-season) and fries its chips in 100% cottonseed oil. It produces over 60 million pounds of potato chips annually.[2][5][7]
The product line includes:
- Potato chips (plain, BBQ, sour cream & onion, Red Hot, salt & vinegar, and more)
- Corn chips, cheese curls, cheese puffs, pork rinds, popcorn
- Pretzels, dips, and seasonal flavors like ketchup and sweet BBQ
Cultural significance
Better Made is the last remaining Detroit-based chip brand from a once-crowded local snack market. Its signature yellow-and-red bags are seen as Detroit icons.[A]
In 2015, author Karen Dybis published Better Made in Michigan, a history of the brand with rare family photos and insider interviews.[1]
It is part of Detroit's culture, like Detroit-style pizza and Detroit-style Coney Island hot dogs.[2][7][10]
Better Made's factory was featured in the series finale of the Comedy Central show Detroiters, using both exterior and interior shots.[10]
It has survived for almost a century in the face of intense competition from larger national corporate power house producers of snack foods, such as Lay's, Pringles or Ruffles. Its secrets are innovation in changing markets, and a dedication to core values, featuring local potatoes.[B][7]