It all started in 1927 when Leonard Japp bought himself a truck and started selling potato chips, nutmeats and pretzels that he bought from individuals to retail stores around Chicago.  Demand for his snacks grew and soon he found himself buying a continuous potato chip fryer and going into production for himself, calling his market-preferred chips “Mrs. Japp’s”.  The chips started to flow until December 7, 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.  As Mr. Japp recalled years later, “People started saying ‘who wants to buy Mrs. Japp’s Potato Chips?’, and within a week we changed our name to Jay’s potato chips.”
Today Jays® enjoys strong consumer support across the Midwest.  People prefer Jays because it is cooked in corn oil to a beautiful golden yellow chip that tastes great.  Chicago born natives, who have moved away, yearn for their Jays Potato Chips.  Oscar winner Virginia Madsen told Chicago Magazine, "I just love Jays potato chips. They are the best in the world."  As Jays flourished, new brands were added to the snacking portfolio. 

O-KE-DOKE® ready to eat popcorn was launched in 1976 and quickly became the #1 popcorn brand in the Midwest.  Today over 70% of people in Chicago who buy ready to eat popcorn, buy O-KE-DOKE*.  We think our fresh cheddar cheese coating gives you all the cheesy family fun you could want!
In 1986, Krunchers!® arrived on the scene as one of the first regionally distributed kettle chips.  Krunchers! Kettle Chips are cut thicker and are hand made, batch after batch, to insure high impact taste and texture.  In 2007, Krunchers! added Reduced Fat kettle, flavor infused tortilla chips and pita chips joined the Krunchers! family.

Creating innovative new products to meet consumer demand is a priority.  As a result, Zestidos® Tortilla Chips were added to the line up in 2002, Jays expanded to a 7 form Mexican line of products in 2007, and Sierra Fields Natural Foods line of chips will reach store shelves by the fall of 2007. 

In the late 1950’s a leading master candy maker created a recipe of mixing butter and brown sugar to make a caramelized glaze which he poured over fresh popped popcorn and premium nuts, and brought with him for his enjoyment as he made frequent auto trips throughout the nation.  A food specialist at the Ovaltine company managed to get a bite of the mouthwatering delicacy and in 1960 Poppycock was born.  Today Poppycock® is sold throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia.  Poppycock has always focused on delivering the most mouthwatering, most premium caramel corn experience possible.  As a result, it retails at a price consistent with other gourmet chocolates and sweets. 

Fiddle Faddle® was added to the sweet portfolio in 1967 as a mainstream priced, family snack composed of clusters of popcorn with peanuts in a yummy caramel glaze.  Business grew for both brands and a new manufacturing facility was built in Lincoln, Nebraska to keep pace with increased demands.

It’s only fitting that a company with brand names like Poppycock and Fiddle Faddle would decide to launch Screaming Yellow Zonkers in 1969.  The light butter glazed popcorn snack took a humorous approach to packaging and marketing and was an instant hit with what was then called the “Laugh-In crowd.”  Today, recall of Screaming Yellow Zonkers is still high.

In recent years, the premium, upscale sweet category has exploded in growth.  Because Poppycock has always been seen as one of the most premium sweet treats, it only made sense to launch [In-dul-gence] by Poppycock® in 2007.  [In-dul-gence] is a cluster of the most delightful, delectable, delish, gratifying, heavenly, hedonistic, lush, mouthwatering, pampering, pleasing, scrumptious, satisfying, tasty, tempting, titillating, toothsome, yummy ingredients you could put together in one bite.  Here’s a description of one of our new flavors, “Nights in White Chocolate” – Honey coated clusters of English toffee, sesame seeds and whole roasted pistachios drizzled with white chocolaty fudge.‘ Nuff said.