San Nicasio
Spanish brand of potato chips
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
San Nicasio is a Spanish brand of gourmet potato chips, established in 1999. The slow cooked chips have won a number of food industry awards for quality and have received a level of notoriety due to the high price tag of the product.
Brand logo, 2012 | |
| Industry | Snack foods |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | , Spain |
| Products | Potato chips |
| Website | sannicasio |
History
San Nicasio was established in 1999 in Priego de Córdoba, in the Andalusian mountains of Spain, by Rafael del Rosal Lopez and his wife Carmen Osuna.[1] They are being distributed by Fayrefield Foods in the UK, who are targeting distributors such as Harvey Nichols and Harrods.[2]
Product
San Nicasio are handmade small-batch potato chips, made with Catalan potatoes, extra virgin olive oil and Himalayan pink salt (a marketing term for rock salt mined in Khewra Salt Mines, Pakistan).[3][4] The olive oil used has the "Priego de Córdoba" denomination of origin.[5] As of 2012[update], they are only available in salted flavour and two sizes, 40 g (1.4 oz) and 190 g (6.7 oz).[6]
Cooking
The chips are slow cooked, unlike most other brand-name chips.[6][7][8] According to owner Lopez this is "to prevent the formation of undesirable substances".[6]
Pricing
In 2011, the product received press coverage on release in the United Kingdom due to the £4 pricing for the larger packet, almost double the market standard.[2][3] Grocery magazine The Grocer asked "will British crisp-lovers fork out almost four quid for a new super-premium snack?", although it did not speculate on the answer to this question.[9] The Rich Times stated that analysts "are as yet divided" as to whether or not a product at this price point "makes any sense".[10]
Awards
The brand has won a number of food industry awards and certifications.
- 2008 Monde Selection Gold medal[8][11]
- 2009 Monde Selection Gold medal[8][11]
- 2010 Monde Selection Gold medal[8][11]
- 2010 Monde Selection International High Quality Trophy (for 3 consecutive gold medals)[12]
- 2011 Monde Selection Gold medal[11]
- 2011 Expoliva award for "Best Food made with Olive Oil"[13]
- 2012 Monde Selection Gold medal[11]