Tenement Saga: The Lower East Side and Early Jewish American Writers (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780299204846)

The potato chip has been one of America's favorite snacks since its accidental origin in a nineteenth-century kitchen. Crunch A History of the Great American Potato Chip tells the story of this crispy, salty treat, from the early sales of locally made chips at corner groceries, county fairs, and cafes to the mass marketing and corporate consolidation of the modern snack food industry.

Crunch also uncovers a dark side of potato chip history, including a federal investigation of the snack food industry in the 1990s following widespread allegations of antitrust activity, illegal buyouts, and predatory pricing. In the wake of these "Great Potato Chip Wars," corporate snack divisions closed and dozens of family-owned companies went bankrupt. Yet, despite consolidation, many small chippers persist into the twenty-first century, as mom-and-pop companies and upstart "boutique" businesses serve both new consumers and markets with strong regional loyalties.

Illustrated with images of early snack food paraphernalia and clever packaging from the glory days of American advertising art, Crunch is an informative tour of large and small business in America and the vicissitudes of popular tastes.

Author: Sanford Sternlicht
ISBN-10: 0299204847
ISBN-13: 9780299204846
Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press
Language: English
Published: 11/09/2004
Pages: 188
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 8.98h x 6.04w x 0.51d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 05/01/2005 pg. 1591