Did your favorite brand come out on top in your state?
There’s something so delicious—and American—about biting into a crisp, salty potato chip. Whether paired with a Maine lobster roll or a New Orleans po’boy, they are satisfying and addictive to eat. (I’m partial to Lay’s salt and vinegar chips stuffed inside my sandwiches for a little tang.) When paired with an ice-cold soda, it’s a combination that really can’t be beat.
The snack is so ubiquitous that chances are, you have a favorite brand you are loyal to and have strong opinions about—and one that might differ from even your immediate family members. Well, a new survey has discovered which potato chip brand is the most popular in each state. Read on to find out which chip won where you live.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more news, tech, travel, cleaning, humor and fun facts all week long.
How did this new report determine the most popular potato chip brands in every state?
Grocery-shopping platform Instacart provided the report and determined the most popular potato chip brands in every state by looking at its customer data. Using one week of data, it surveyed what potato chip brands were being bought and where. The brands with the highest differences between the state orders and national orders were crowned the winners and labeled as the most popular chip in that state.
FYI, the survey used only name-brand potato chips; no store brands were included.
What is the most popular potato chip brand in each state?
The most popular chip brand in each state varies greatly across the country. Regional potato chip brands are incredibly popular, but national brands like Ruffles and Lay’s also came out victorious. Here’s a full list of the most popular potato chip brands in each state:
- Alabama: Pringles
- Alaska: Ruffles
- Arizona: Ruffles
- Arkansas: Ruffles
- California: Kettle Brand
- Colorado: Boulder Canyon
- Connecticut: Cape Cod
- Delaware: Utz
- Florida: Boulder Canyon
- Georgia: Zapp’s
- Hawaii: Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips
- Idaho: Ruffles
- Illinois: Pringles
- Indiana: Better Made
- Iowa: Pringles
- Kansas: Lay’s
- Kentucky: Pringles
- Louisiana: Zapp’s
- Maine: Cape Cod
- Maryland: Utz
- Massachusetts: Cape Cod
- Michigan: Better Made
- Minnesota: Old Dutch
- Mississippi: Ruffles
- Missouri: Ruffles
- Montana: Ruffles
- Nebraska: Lay’s
- Nevada: Ruffles
- New Hampshire: Herr’s
- New Jersey: Utz
- New Mexico: Ruffles
- New York: Lay’s
- North Carolina: Utz
- North Dakota: Old Dutch
- Ohio: Better Made
- Oklahoma: Boulder Canyon
- Oregon: Kettle Brand
- Pennsylvania: Utz
- Rhode Island: Cape Cod
- South Carolina: Utz
- South Dakota: Old Dutch
- Tennessee: Pringles
- Texas: Ruffles
- Utah: Ruffles
- Vermont: Herr’s
- Virginia: Utz
- Washington: Kettle Brand
- West Virginia: Utz
- Wisconsin: Old Dutch
- Wyoming: Ruffles
What were the regional trends?
It’s clear from the data that regional potato chip brands are beloved by Instacart customers. On the West Coast, Kettle Brand, which is based in Oregon, reigns supreme. Minnesotan brand Old Dutch is the winner in its home state as well as in North Dakota, while Boulder Canyon is most favored in Colorado and neighboring Oklahoma. Better Made, which operates out of Detroit, is in first place in Michigan. Hawaii’s Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips have a fan base in Hawaii, and Zapp’s takes the chip crown in Louisiana and, surprisingly, also in Georgia. Mid-Atlantic snackers love Utz, which is based in Pennsylvania, and New England unsurprisingly loves a bag of Cape Cod potato chips.
Which chip brand is the most popular in the U.S.?
While there were several brands with multistate wins, there was one clear top choice. The overall winner of the title of the most popular chip brand in the U.S. is Ruffles, with 17 states, including Nevada, New Mexico and Texas preferring it. Guess those famous ridges give Ruffles the edge!
RELATED:
- New Report: These Are the Most Popular Bottled Water Brands in the U.S.
- New Report: These Are the Most Fun States in the U.S.
- New Report: This Is the Best City for Young Professionals
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
