Paddock to packet, potato chip company Smith's 90 years in Australia 🥔 | Landline | ABC Australia

Whether it's salt and vinegar, barbeque or plain... who doesn't love potato chips? But as you crunch away have you ever thought about the effort and process it takes to make them? Landline reporter Luke Wong has discovered it's not just any regular potato that makes the cut.
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[@stuartkcalvin]

This piece brings back so many memories. My father was the Production Manager when Eta was making the crisps at Marrickville NSW (Marrickville Holdings Pty Ltd), in the late '60s and early '70s. During school holidays I worked as a young fella on the end of the production line, placing cartons onto pallets, banding them, then wheeling them out to the warehouse. My father ended up as the Australasian/Oceanic Snacks Foods Manager when Weston was the owner, based in Chatswood NSW. Women packed the packets into the boxes while men ran the machines. There were Lebanese, Italians, Greeks, Yugoslavs, you name a country - they were represented; English was not a language in the factory! Excess crisps ran down the conveyer into a 200 litre drum controlled by a dour Serb. When full, he would heft that drum onto his shoulder and walk it back to the cooked crisp conveyer - and do that all day. As an aside, Dupont provided the film that wrapped the crisps. In the 'olden' days, the blue packet contained the traditional Smiths Crisps - what distinguished them from other crisps was that, while well washed, they were not peeled and cooked in animal fat. The animal fat gave them that great taste and you could look at a crisp side-on and see the brown skin. So a day's run was either blue packet or other crisps cooked in vegetable oil with a dusting of flavour. In the early '70s, supermarkets were already asking for their own branding on the packaging - same crisp, different wrap. The Eta Marrickville plant experimented with flavours and also produced Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs, Twisties, Cheezles and 'straw' crisps (which were popular). The Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs (candy coated popped corn) were a US import but never took off. If you could see Twisties or Cheezles being made (by extrusion), you'd never eat one - a bit like watching sausage making. Flavours were imported from the UK - Tomato Sauce, Cheese and Onion and some other flavours that never took off in Australia. Salt and Vinegar as well as BBQ were successes. The Eta Marrickville plant also produced/packaged margarine, nuts, peanut butter and also housed the Smiths Crisps race car (which had a full time panel beater and spray painter!). They are crisps, not chips ;)

[@petesmitt]

Great story.. thanks.

[@zamansyed86]

Thanks for taking us down the memory lane . It was a delight to read it.

[@ToxicMrSmith]

In Australia they're are most definitely chips.

[@peaceleader7315]

@@ToxicMrSmith crispy and crunchy... hmmmm.. I want investment in diversity.. especially healthy and environmentally sustainable and friendly.. hmmmm

[@jgab7042]

Potato chips and french fries with ketchup

[@101deathcore]

if they open up a few more farms they could actually manage to fill their packets

[@bibashhiwakote5577]

🤣🤣lays are even worse mate. Smith's are far better in compare to them .

[@davidl9687]

Fill a bag all the way up and all you'll get is crumbled chips. They do it for a reason

[@charles5895]

Chip packets are often only half full because the air inside is not just any air, it has a lot of nitrogen in it, it keeps the chips fresh, also, the air inside acts as a kind of protection from the outside, so if a truck delivering these packets on the way runs into a bump these chip packets won’t be crushed so easily. Or would you rather have crumbled chips? So not only does the air inside keep the chips fresh, it also protects the chips so they don’t get crushed. Or would you rather have soggy crushed chips?

[@iluvbewbies23]

If you made your own chips you wouldn't have that problem

[@lauriebarns9901]

Am old enough to remember, when growing up in Scotland, Smiths crisps came unsalted. Inside the bag was a twist of blue waxed paper containing salt. You had the choice of putting the amount of salt you wanted. Shame it was done away with.

[@shandy3025]

On there 100th they will definitely bring it back. I’m only 16 so I’ve never got to Experience that

[@ahmedshinwari]

The kind of salt does Smiths put is huge quantity. Thank God they do Cheese & Onion flavor as well, now.

[@time2kickarse]

Bring on the cheese and onion.

[@steveclifford1239]

Smith.s made in Oz, I’m now Smiths. Thanks ABC

[@chirut4327]

Please upload in 4k if possible. These are wonderful videos.

[@chap6595]

Father Gerald drops buy when the TV crew arrives!!! Very clean jumper!!!!

[@drpk6514]

If you want to find new varieties I would recommend you to check the types available in Iran. It is shocking how narrow the chips varieties are in Australia and I haven’t seen anywhere the diversity and taste of chips in Iran.

[@trythinking6676]

Potatoes come from south america..you'd be surprised how many varieties you can find there.

[@stuartkcalvin]

Chips are sold at Fish and Chip shops. Crisps in Australia abound in style and flavour.

[@stuartkcalvin]

@@trythinking6676 Ah, the succulent Esculent!

[@someone9608]

If only they’d divert their potato production to frozen potato products (frozen chips, potato gems, hash browns, frozen mash potato etc) During this ridiculous shortage of food supply Australia wide the past couple years, one would think the nations food security would be a higher priority than bloody junk food! Sick of having to buy our frozen potato products from overseas producers (have noticed similar with all other frozen vegetables types also, majority from China and some from European manufacturers, as well as eggs, meat and dairy supplies!). Coles and Woolies need to step up their support for stocking AUSTRALIAN GROWN food and the Fed Govt in Australia should be bloody well be prioritising food security in Australia! The ABC report says there are “47 potato growers in Australia from North Qld to Victoria” and “it takes about 4 months to grow them” and “the variety is well suited for being frozen for supply during the non-growing season” well then there shouldn’t be a bloody frozen potato shortage in this country! And stop all the BS shop signs about “food supply challenges due to Covid”! Next you’ll tell us we’ve run out of flour and bread because of the war in Ukraine! My 89 year old father said the last time he saw this type of disruption to food security was during WW2. Maybe we are in a fifth generation war right now except we’re all too broke, financially stressed, worried and distracted about keeping jobs and paying our bills to notice.

[@chriss1889]

They make good chips too love smiths

[@civlyzed]

We don't have that brand here in the US, but I'd like to try 'em!

[@UltimateSeduction]

In Europe it used to be Smiths also but it was rebranded to Lay's in 2004 when PepsiCo acquired Smiths.

[@MuzzSader]

@@UltimateSeduction Yeah, I was going to say Lays are probably the closest you'd get to the same taste as Smith's.

[@17hmr243]

if they could make a full bag of chip where the look folded over in half thats my fav type to find in the bag

[@joericksen1653]

They fill the bags with air to prevent damage to the chips in transit. If they didn’t do that you would have crumbs. You are getting the correct amount as stated on the packet.

[@user-fq8zr2jy8w]

It's actually been a while since I had Smiths chips, come to think of it.

[@stephenjdixon1]

for all pracical purposes a ton is a tonne both pronounced tun

[@j2simpso]

Thanks a ton! 🤣

[@blake9358]

The best potatoes come from NSW Tasmania and SA

[@AJPickett]

So nice for a local company to be employing all these disadvantaged folks from America and the UK.

[@nathangrant3973]

One of the first things I noticed. Company in Australia 🇦🇺… PepsiCo logo on their shirts, no Aussie accents.

[@kidfreejones]

This was cool to watch since I live about 4kms from the factory in the vid. I'd be a shit taste tester though, all would be approved for market 🤣

[@stuartkcalvin]

Get chips from a fish and chip shop. Get your crisps from a supermarket.

[@ToxicMrSmith]

Get you're culture elsewhere. We call them chips. Deal with it

[@samuelanketell8190]

They are chips in Australia 🇦🇺 go back to England if you don't like it

[@blackcorp0001]

Mmmmm chippies are yummmm

[@purnima496]

I love this chips

[@hulkgqnissanpatrol6121]

They changed the way they make them 10-12 year's ago. I can't eat them anymore, they make my stomach feel horrible and always get blocked up. Never had a problem beforehand and was eaten almost every second day.

[@66otnt]

GO AUSSIE!!!

[@samuelanketell8190]

Aussie? Pepsi owns them.

[@17hmr243]

wish we could buy jar of extra flavoring in all runs

[@felicityharley927]

nice!

[@pauldunlea3669]

Smiths I grew up with. I still eat the '' Standard Salted Chips '' However Kettle Chips are giving Smiths '' A run for their money ''

[@kaze987]

Just about the only unique flavour we have here in Canada that I have yet to see elsewhere is the excellent flavour - All Dressed. Can't describe it. Smiths! Get on it!

[@alexkent1932]

At least the CEO had an Aussie accent.

[@grinblurnar]

I want MISO flavoured smiths chippies!

[@thomasbarca9297]

I hope PepsiCo can release a few new flavours I’d love a new tomato sauce flavour, ranch dip and dill pickle I love these flavours from the States and Canada

[@blackcorp0001]

Rosella tomato sauce is the BEST tomato sauce in Australia ... fight me if you don't believe me :p

[@somebody6248]

👍

[@nomyafiftyonefifty8081]

Oh nice to see you're allowing comments on this story, why not the others?

[@mrgoodwrench8181]

The small companies are eating away at the big producers, they provide a better product.

[@LureThosePixels]

That JP guy says potato like an Australian but everything else is American accent

[@stephenfurley746]

We have smiths in england loved a packet of salt and shake but Walker's have taken them over now and they are rubbish now

[@spudking6617]

Bring back smiths to Western Australia? 👍🥔🇦🇺

[@zamansyed86]

Smith chips are not available in Western Australian stores ???

[@tonyvu2011]

@@zamansyed86 Smith chips are available in WA but the factory, which processed WA grown patatoes, was closed in 2015.

[@samuelanketell8190]

Pepsi owns them anyway

[@kevinowen7388]

Snack brands ?

[@thomashancock6805]

No wonder there is so many broken chips in my packet!!!

[@sailingpelikan1]

So how is it that the chips are only 61 percent potato ??????

[@ahmedshinwari]

I come from Pakistan and I must say that Australians have no idea how good potato chips tastes back in my home country. The potato here in Australia is *tasteless* but due to farming techniques of selecting the best breed (profitable) the taste has been sacrificed. Probably, the same is true about nutrition as well.

[@sailingpelikan1]

Read the ingredients 61% potato ??????

[@seberdee8824]

They are crisps it says so on the packet and on the side of the factory ! Stop calling them chips

[@xbrandon2252]

You mustn't be Aussie then because we call em chips mate

[@sadakatzamee5872]

yeah mate. we dont care a bit bout does pommies

[@catclark9488]

@@xbrandon2252 Yep, I'm Aussie and I've never in all my 60 odd years called them crisps :)

[@punkproductions3184]

We need to have bacon and worcester sauce flavour chips/crisps as a standard in Australia.. Smith's haven't had a constant new flavour since 1980.. 40 years later, stop teasing us with these great flavours and then taking then away😭

[@xbrandon2252]

Wait really? No new flavours to the main line-up since the 80s? Wow that's crazy! You'd think with all the time they put in all these new flavours over the years they'd keep one of them as a mainstay

[@TheXeeman]

do they use pesticides?

[@carlwereld5131]

yes without pesticides its imposible

[@wildchook745]

Heaps of taters but how do you explain the fewer chips in a packet these days.

[@sadakatzamee5872]

Scamming bah

[@catclark9488]

The packets are marked at a certain gram weight and are filled to that weight so maybe the pack size is a smaller weight now?

[@vickidianacoghlan8946]

I want a tomato flavoured potato.

[@patrickcarlin3015]

I want a potato flavoured tomato....

[@patrickcarlin3015]

I know a great recipe. We can meet up and hash this out. Just as long as you know how to get your hands on some Wuhan bats. Won't be the same without em!

[@joecrachemontange4613]

Humpty dumpty potato chips has ketchup ones.

[@quannyfourtwo4366]

This is what Australians expect from the ABC not leftie crap

[@LTV746]

Leftie crap? It’s the most neutral channel on tv compared to right wing garbage and shopping channels on free to air

[@petesmitt]

@@LTV746 Most ABC presenters are left leaning, but it's true that the ABC excels at non-political programmes such as this, although it did come across as a bit advertorial..

[@vickidianacoghlan8946]

Two addatives I hate in potato chips is 1.Palm Oil and 2. MSG. No Good.

[@stuartkcalvin]

Australian made crisps are cooked in Canola oil - grown in Australia.

[@petesmitt]

@@stuartkcalvin Yuk.. vegetable oil like Canola or Sunflower is unhealthy and horrible tasting.. such crisps and chips are a pale imitation to the real thing.. fried in glorious tasting animal fat - it was usually beef tallow. Health Benefits of Beef Tallow Rich in nutrients - not only does it help you absorb more nutrients from your food, beef tallow is also rich in vitamins A, D, E, K, and B1; it contains conjugated linoleic acid, a natural anti-inflammatory.

[@charlie-ot5ug]

I'm eating too much sweet and salty snacks during lockdown.

[@alliswell2114]

and canola

[@danedgar1539]

Very multicultural video 😂

[@YTGhostCensorshipCanSuckMe]

this guys accent is just weird.

[@peterbourne6222]

So sad that one day this will all be made in China.

[@charlie-ot5ug]

Just like your Snickers bar

[@bry120]

So... Are you making Covid-19 vaccine mandatory in your factories?

[@ToxicMrSmith]

Would you prefer to live in lockdown forever? Go on the dole if you don't like a tiny needle jab.

[@petesmitt]

That American/Australian English accent mash-up was torture on the ears.. 1:22

[@BehaveDave1]

Yes i noticed that too. I think JP is a expat American that probably has been here for 20+ years.

[@alanwilby9927]

....SMITHS...A GREAT CRISP...I LIKE THE PLAIN THINS...WHEN YOU OPEN THE PACKET ..SMELL INSIDE ..YOU CAN SMELL THE POTATOES ....THEY SMELL FRESH...