Tri-Sum Potato Chips 100 years producing potato chips

Tri-Sum Potato Chip Company has reached the milestone of 100 years of business, officially making the Leominster based snack the oldest continually-produced potato chip in America.

In honor of the anniversary, Richard Duchesneau and son Jeff (third- and fourth-generation owner/operators, respectively) donated a replica of the horse and buggy used by company founder J.P. Duchesneau to deliver chips and immortalized on Tri-Sum bags as the company's trademark image to the City during Sholan Farm's Scarecrow Festival last Saturday.

The snack-maker began in 1908 as the Leominster Potato Chip Company (the Tri-Sum name would come later by way of a customer contest). J.P Duchesneau traveled an 8-mile route through Central Massachusetts, selling his chips to hotels and inns.

"There used to between 50 and 60 companies making chips in New England, brands like State Line and Boyds. Now there are just two left: Tri-Sum and Wachusett,"Richard said. "It's kind of amazing that the two survivors are from the Twin Cities."

"Cape Cod Potato Chips doesn't count;they're owned by Lance Foods, a big national company,"Jeff Duchesneau added.