A Golden era ends: Iconic snack plant closing

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May 1, 2023

Pennsylvania-based Utz Brands has announced that it will discontinue making the iconic Golden Flake snacks in Alabama. However, the snacks will still be sold, and about 100 employees will continue working at a new Birmingham distribution facility.

The company announced in a filing last week: “Utz Brands made the decision to permanently cease operations at the Company’s manufacturing facility located in Birmingham, Alabama effective on or around July 3, 2023. This decision reflects the Company’s dedication to network optimization and cost containment.”

Golden Flake chips have a history in Alabama as a beloved snack brand for 100 years. The company was founded in 1923 by Mose and Frank Lewis in Birmingham and originally sold potato chips out of the back of their Model T truck.

Over the years, Golden Flake’s popularity grew, and the company expanded its product line to include a variety of snack foods, including cheese puffs, corn chips, and tortilla chips. Today, Golden Flake is best known for its potato chips, available in a range of flavors, including original, barbecue, and sour cream and onion.

Utz Brands will spend $3 million to $5 million on the closure, with $1.5 million allocated for employee severance payments and the rest to transfer production. Utz said it “expects no distribution or availability issues due to the manufacturing closure.”

Golden Flake’s success in the Yellowhammer State has in part due to its strong ties to the state and icons who have stood the test of time.