Bickel’s Snack Foods, Inc.

Last updated December 2, 2025 – Submit an update or correction

Company Summary

Bickel’s Snack Foods, Inc. is a regional potato chip and snack food manufacturer based in York, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1954 by Luther Bickel, the company has evolved from a small family-run business into a mid-sized snack food producer now owned by Hanover Foods Corporation. Known for its unique “seared” potato chips and full line of salted snacks, Bickel’s maintains a strong regional presence in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic states.

Where to Buy Bickel’s Snacks

Bickel’s products are available at:

Regional Grocery Chains:

Local Delivery:

Instacart (delivery in as fast as 1 hour)
Dollar Tree same-day delivery
Various grocery store online ordering platforms

Direct from Company:

- Hanover Foods Online Shop
- Factory outlet stores in Hanover, PA

Specialty Retailers:

Company History

Founding (1954)

Bickel’s Potato Chip Company was started in 1954 by Mr. Luther Bickel in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It was a regional family-run business offering a unique “seared” potato chip in a variety of flavors.

Hanover Foods Acquisition (1998)

In 1998, Bickel’s was purchased by Hanover Foods Corporation. Hanover Foods is the largest independently owned manufacturer of frozen, canned, fresh, and freeze-dried food products in the United States.

Hanover Foods Corporation is the largest independently-owned food processor in the eastern United States, producing millions of cases of frozen, canned, refrigerated, fresh, glass-packed, and snack food items.

Strategic Expansion (2000-2001)

Year 2000: To further strengthen its position in the salted snack category, Hanover Foods purchased York Snacks and the Bon Ton Potato Chip facility in York, Pennsylvania. The companies were consolidated as “Bickel’s Snack Foods, Inc.” The consolidation brought together the production of corn snacks, potato chips, and the unique seared potato chip—all within one company, for branded labels and private labels.

Year 2001: Bickel’s acquired WEGE Pretzel Company of Hanover, Pennsylvania to strengthen its position with the manufacturing of pretzels in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Troyer Farms Acquisition (2008)

In December 2008, Bickel’s Snack Foods Inc acquired Troyer Farms located in Waterford, Pennsylvania. Troyer Farms was notable as the only U.S. manufacturer of potato chips that grows its own potatoes. As a result, Troyer Farms could legitimately claim to produce the freshest chip in the country. Troyer Farms chips contain no preservatives—they are simply prime potatoes picked at their flavor peak, thinly sliced, cooked in pure vegetable oil and lightly salted.

At the time of acquisition, Troyer Farms (which had previously acquired Cleveland-based Dan-Dee in 1984 and Seyfert Foods in Indiana in 1984) employed about 325 people and sold snacks in six states. Together, those employees produced about 17 million pounds of snack food a year, including 10 million pounds of potato chips.

Brand Evolution

Bickel’s name was changed to multiple brand identities including Bickel’s of York, Bon-Ton of York, and WEGE of Hanover to better define its snack food roots within the “snack capital of the world” in south central Pennsylvania.

Corporate Structure

Parent Company

Bickel’s Snack Foods, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hanover Foods Corporation.

Hanover Foods Corporation Background:

Founded in 1924
Largest independently-owned food processor in the eastern United States
Produces millions of cases of frozen, canned, refrigerated, fresh, glass-packed, and snack food items
Annual revenue: $930.2 million (2025)
Total employees: 177 (corporate), 1,001-5,000 (various sources for total organization)
Average Employee Salary: $36,919 per year (per Zippia)

Leadership

General Manager: Jeff Warehime
Email: jeff.warehime@hanoverfoods.com

Parent Company CEO: Jeff Warehime (also CEO of Hanover Foods Corporation)

Facilities and Locations

Primary Facilities

Main Production Facility:
1000 W College Ave, York, PA 17404-3537

Additional Facility:
1120 Zinns Quarry Rd, York, PA

Corporate Office:
P.O. Box 2427, York, PA 17405

Outlet Stores:

1125 Wilson Ave., Hanover, PA (factory outlet)
116 N Blettner Ave, Hanover, PA

Contact Information

Phone: (717) 843-0738

Toll-Free: (800) 242-5357 / (800) 888-4646

Business Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (closed weekends)

Website: www.hanoverfoods.com

Products and Manufacturing

Product Line

Bickel’s is one of the few manufacturers that can offer a FULL LINE of salted snacks, including:

Potato Chips:

Original/Classic potato chips
Aunt Kitty’s Kettle Cooked chips
Unique “seared” potato chips (signature product)
Ripple potato chips
Sour Cream & Onion flavored chips
Barbeque flavored chips
Mesquite BBQ chips
Salt & Vinegar chips
Cheddar & Sour Cream chips
Jalapeño chips
Thin & Crispy chips
White Cheddar Popcorn chips

Corn Snacks:

Corn Chips
Tortilla Chips (restaurant style, white corn, yellow corn)
Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips
Cool Ranch Tortilla Chips
Chili Lime Corn Chips
Cheese Curls/Doodles
Cheese Puffs/Balls

Pretzels (through WEGE brand):

Hard Pretzels (rods, sticks, twists, nuggets, braids, rings)
Soft Pretzels
Honey Wheat Pretzels
Butter Pretzels

Pork Rinds:

Original flavor
Hot & Spicy
BBQ flavor

Specialty Items:

Party Mix
Snack Mix
Popcorn (butter, cheese, caramel)
Cheese Sticks
Onion Rings (snack)

Manufacturing Capabilities

Production Methods:

Traditional batch cooking
Continuous frying processes
Kettle cooking (Aunt Kitty’s line)
Extrusion technology (for corn snacks)
Pretzel baking and twisting

Private Label Capabilities: Bickel’s produces snacks for private label brands in addition to its own branded products. The company has an in-house artist and marketing department to assist private label customers.

Brand Names

Products are sold under multiple brand names:

Bickel’s
Bickel’s of York
Bon-Ton (Bon Ton)
WEGE
Troyer Farms
Aunt Kitty’s

Product Attributes

Gluten-Free Options: Many Bickel’s products are gluten-free, including their original potato chips.

Company Slogan: “Picky People Pick Bickel’s”

Market Position and Distribution

Geographic Distribution

Primary Market Areas:

Pennsylvania (strongest presence, particularly south-central PA)
Maryland
New Jersey
Delaware
Virginia
Parts of New York
Other Mid-Atlantic states (limited)

Market Positioning

Bickel’s maintains a primarily regional focus rather than national distribution like competitors Utz, Herr’s, or Wise. The company is positioned within the “snack capital of the world” in south central Pennsylvania.

Competitive Landscape

Bickel’s competes in a David-and-Goliath battle against major players like Frito-Lay. The acquisition of Troyer Farms in 2008 was seen as a strategic move to create a larger company better able to compete against national brands.

Industry Classification

NAICS Codes: 311, 31, 3119
SIC Codes: 205, 20

Industry: Other Food Manufacturing / Specialty Food Manufacturing

Company Philosophy and Values

Quality and Craftsmanship

What sets Bickel’s Snack Foods apart is their dedication to craftsmanship. Every snack is crafted with care, using the finest ingredients and time-tested techniques. This attention to detail is evident in the crunch, texture, and flavor that their snacks deliver.

Tradition and Nostalgia

Bickel’s Snack Foods carries a touch of nostalgia, reminiscent of a time when snacks were made with care and cherished moments were shared over a bag of chips. Their snacks evoke a sense of tradition, allowing consumers to relive fond memories while creating new ones.

Company Mission

Bickel’s Snack Foods is committed to being the number one salted snack producer for the future. Quality, consistency, and dedication to customer service keep the company moving toward that goal.

Workplace and Culture

Employee Reviews and Ratings

According to employee reviews on Indeed, Bickel’s Snack Foods has mixed feedback:

Positive Aspects:

Vacation days per year of service
Paid holidays off
Second chance employer
Fun work environment focused on cleanliness

Challenges:

Management training needs improvement
Some management members perceived as unprofessional
Equipment sealing issues can create messy work conditions
Poor life insurance policies

Interview Process:

Rated as “easy” by candidates
Takes about a day or two
Overall experience rated as “favorable”

Company Demographics

(per Zippia)

33% women, 67% men
68% White
13% Hispanic or Latino
9% Black or African American

Notable Company Characteristics

Signature Product: The unique “seared” potato chip remains the company’s distinguishing feature
Full-Line Manufacturer: One of few companies offering complete salted snack product lines
Traditional Methods: Continues batch cooking and traditional recipes dating back to 1954
Private Label Strength: Significant private label production capabilities alongside branded products
Local Heritage: Maintains strong ties to Pennsylvania’s snack food culture and tradition
Vertical Integration (via Troyer): Through the Troyer Farms acquisition, gained access to potato growing operations

Historical Timeline

1924: Hanover Foods Corporation founded
1954: Luther Bickel founds Bickel’s Potato Chip Company in Lancaster County, PA
1998: Hanover Foods Corporation acquires Bickel’s
2000: Hanover Foods purchases York Snacks and Bon Ton Potato Chip facility; consolidates as Bickel’s Snack Foods, Inc.
2001: Bickel’s acquires WEGE Pretzel Company of Hanover, PA
2008: Bickel’s Snack Foods Inc. acquires Troyer Farms in Waterford, PA

Additional Services

Customer Services:

Delivery available
Overnight parking for truckers
Factory tours (may be available through outlet location)
In-house artist and marketing department for private label customers

Product Recall History

In 2016, Bickel’s issued a voluntary recall for Sour Cream & Onion Flavored Potato Chips due to potential contamination. The recall affected multiple sizes (0.75 oz, 1.5 oz, 2 oz, 7 oz, 8.5 oz) across Bickel’s, Bon Ton, and Troyer brand labels manufactured between September and December 2016.

Customers with questions were directed to contact: 1-800-888-4646 Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 5:00pm EST.