Wachusett Potato Chip Co. sold to Utz Quality Foods

The Wachusett Potato Chip Co., the last independent potato chip company in New England, has been purchased by a Pennsylvania-based snack food company.

Utz Quality Foods Inc. of Hanover, Pa., purchased the Wachusett Potato Chip Co.'s Water Street facility, trucks, equipment and brand, as well as hiring all 50 of its employees.

According to a release from Utz, the company “has assumed ownership of the Wachusett brand and all associated trademarks along with the distribution routes, and the manufacturing facility located in Fitchburg, Mass. It is the intention of Utz Quality Foods to retain all of the employees and Wachusett route salespersons associated with the company and to continue the past growth and other initiatives that have made Wachusett such a success in the New England market.”

Utz also announced that it intends “to increase the potato chip output in this plant, as additional assets and manufacturing equipment are added to manufacture the Utz brand of potato chips in Fitchburg.”

Utz took over the plant at midnight Sept. 30, according to Wachusett Potato Chip Co. President Edward S. Krysiak.

A subsidiary of Utz Quality Foods, called SRS Leasing, bought the 56,000-square-foot potato chip plant at 759 Water St. for $1.7 million on Oct. 1. The entire sale price for the business was not disclosed.