Old Dutch, the iconic Midwest potato chip brand adding that satisfying crunch to school sack lunches, Superbowl parties, and the top of mom’s famous hotdish, is celebrating its 90th anniversary.
The company was born and raised in Minnesota and has been headquartered right here in Roseville since 1968.
Old Dutch Then
Founder Carl J. Marx started frying up potato chips in his Grand Avenue home in St. Paul in 1934.
Marx called his chips Old Dutch because he associated that culture with cleanliness and quality, according to news reports. That brand, with its distinctive red and yellow windmill logo, had staying power. In decades past, women dressed as Dutch maidens helped to sell the chips in grocery store aisles across the Midwest.
Old Dutch operations expanded and moved to Minneapolis in the 1940s. Old Dutch settled in its current location on Terminal Road on Roseville’s west end in the 1960s after a fire destroyed its Minneapolis facility. The chip company was part of the suburb’s mid-century building boom. Old Dutch joined a growing group of innovative businesses moving to Roseville including Rosedale Center, one of the first enclosed shopping malls, and the first Target store in the nation.
Old Dutch Now
Today, Old Dutch Foods, Inc. employs more than 600 people, mostly in Minnesota. Old Dutch remains locally owned and operated by the Aanenson family and is a part of Roseville’s diverse industry base. Manufacturing makes up 9% of the nearly 36,000 jobs in Roseville.
The company’s Roseville facility is at full capacity, but they’re primed for growth. They own an adjacent property for future expansion.
Old Dutch is best known for its distinctive box packaging containing two bags of potato chips, referred to as twin packs. Old Dutch and its other brands, Barrel O’ Fun and Humpty Dumpty, are sold in 19 states and nationwide in Canada. Products include potato chips in a variety of flavors, tortilla chips, cheese puffs, pretzels, popcorn, and dips.