Snack World - February 2012 - (Page 13)

potato chips to neighborhood stores in his horse-drawn wagon. Mr. Tappenden’s business began on his kitchen stove, but as orders increased, he converted a barn at the rear of the house into one of the first potato chip factories. In Monterey Park, CA, in 1926, Laura Scudder produced her first chip and made industry history at the same time. Up to this point, retailers had dispensed potato chips in bulk from cracker barrels or glass display cases. The chips were then handed to the customer in a paper sack. But Ms. Scudder had a fresher idea. At night, employees in her small chip operation took home sheets of waxed paper and handironed them into bags. The next day, the workers hand-packed chips into the bags, sealed the tops with a warm iron and delivered them to retailers for customer self-service. The first customized potato chip bag was born. Also in the 1920s, the flexible packaging industry was experimenting with a new material — cellophane. Although the early cellophane packages were easily damaged by printing and handling, which limited their usefulness, they were an overwhelming success in the food industry. Indeed, cellophane, and later glassine, would change the face of the snack food industry forever. sw 75 Years and Growing In 1987, the Snack Food Association (SFA) marked its first half-century of existence, and at that time, it published 50 Years: A Foundation for the Future. This 408-page hardcover book described the history and milestones of the snack food industry, including the formation of the National Potato Chip Institute (NPCI) in 1937, which would become the Potato Chip Institute International in 1959, the Potato Chip/Snack Food Association in 1976 and eventually just the SFA a decade later. We have pulled some of the content from that book as well as prepared new material regarding the past 25 years, plus thoughts about the future of the industry, to share with you in the quarterly issues of Snack World this year as the association marks its 75th anniversary. In this issue, we take a look back at the beginnings of the snack food industry, as well as share some thoughts from SFA members and leaders about its future. In the next issue, we’ll review what took place in the industry during the 1940s and 1950s and present key associates’ views on happenings from the past decade. www.sfa.org February 2012 Snack World 13 http://www.sfa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Snack World - February 2012

Snack World - February 2012
Features
Letter from SFA - 75 Years...Growth, Innovation, Progress
Supplier’s Corner - Time for Change
Calendar of Events
75th Anniversary - The Birth of the Industry
75 Years and Counting
75th Anniversary - An Association is Born
75th Anniversary - A Glance at the Future
Government Affairs - Transportation Rules Roll
Meeting with members of Congress
Acrylamide Update - Strategies for Reduction
SNAXPO 75 - Building Knowledge Blocks
SNAXPO 75 - Exhibitor List
New Snacks
Products & Services
Ad Index

Snack World - February 2012