Old Dutch memories

Guess what was waiting for me on my desk at work today! Nothing makes a western Canadian smile like a bag of Old Dutch potato chips. Kate brought a few bags back with her from Thunder Bay. I shared this bag with people at work. I think what makes Old Dutch taste so good is the nostalgia. Definitely people in the newsroom who grew up in Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta were more excited about the chips than the Ontarians. And I think Old Dutch knows people are snacking on childhood memories as much as potatoes, vegetable oil and salt. (Remember when they came in a cardboard box? I used to get so excited when mom came home from Safeway with one of those boxes in the grocery bags.) Anway, flip over today's Old Dutch chip bag and this is what you get:
How the West was Won! It started in Winnipeg back around 1954. A little known potato chip company with a lot of heart became the talk of the town. Soon, the news of these tasty chips spread like wildfire! Folks had never had anything like them. Since then, Canadians have made a tradition of serving Old Dutch flavour favourites at birthday parties, get togethers and celebrations!
I think nostalgia is still big business in the food world. The Sugar Mountain candy store chain is a prime example. It sells PEZ dispensers and Garbage Pail Kids trading cards alongside Coke in a glass bottle and Popeye bubble gum. And look at how A&W brought the mama, papa and teen burgers back to its menu. And cupcakes are still pretty hot as a food trend. From the Magnolia Bakery in NY’s West Village to wedding tables (some couples order pyramids of cupcakes instead of wedding cakes).
What’s sad about Old Dutch chips – or any nostalgia food – is the taste doesn’t often measure up to the memories. Munching away this afternoon, it occurred to me that I like Baked Lays more than Old Dutch now. Old Dutch tastes kinda greasy. Which isn’t what I want to think, because I’m rooting for Old Dutch to survive the Lays invasion. You can tell Old Dutch wants that as well when you read the last line on the chip bag:
We look forward to serving up our many Old Dutch flavour favourites to Canadian families for generations to come.
It's kind of like saying yeah, we know we know we're facing stiff competition, but we hope we won't be stomped under.