Terra Chips are the creation of two New York chefs with the sort of entrepreneurial spirit that keeps one's ingenuity and imagination cooking. Dana Sinkler and Alex Dzieduszycki left their jobs at four-star Manhattan restaurants in favor of starting a modest catering business that would soon grow to cater some of the most elite parties in the Big Apple. The two entrepreneurs were on the road to success.

Main dishes change with each event, therefore, a signature entree would not suffice for every occasion. Their focus turned to the bar where guests characteristically made their first visit to order a drink and nibble on appetizers. Thus, they decided to create an appetizer that would be a flavorful snack on the bar, a beautiful accompaniment with any meal, or a welcomed addition to the fanciful plate of hors d'oeuvres.

Why Vegetable Chips?

Chips were the answer, not potato chips, but exotic root vegetables like taro, ruby taro, sweet potato, batata, parsnip, and yuca to be exact.

Terra Chips® was created in February of 1990 and demand quickly became a driving force. Too big a task for Dana's apartment kitchen, they moved to a quaint storefront on the lower east side of New York City. The two chefs began to package their exciting creation in simple silver and black bags and sell it to their catering customers.

Fortunately, one of their clients was Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks was so enthusiastic about this new retail opportunity that they ordered 50 cases right away; with production at 5 cases a day, this was quite a task!

By 1993, production was up to 150 cases a day, orders for Terra Exotic Vegetable Chips were pouring in from over 20 states. Dedicating themselves to expanding their presence from gourmet markets to the natural food stores, specialty food stores and supermarkets so their customers could find them, Terra Chips received its first-class identity that branded them in silver and black packaging, reminiscent of the equity they had established during their humble beginnings when they sold their first order to Saks in simple silver foodservice bags with a black and white label.

Having outgrown their storefront location and on the verge of releasing their new Sweet Potato line of specialty chips, the company moved into a much larger facility in Brooklyn. It was in this new location that the new line of Sweet Potato Chips was established because consumers demanded more of this crowd favorite from the Original mix. Now a hit nationwide, product expansion began with Sweet Potato and then Spiced Sweet Potato a new flavor combination that enhances the natural succulence of this prized vegetable chip.

While experimenting with low fat cooking techniques and hearty vegetables, it was discovered that the beautiful golden color and bold texture of the Yukon Gold Potato, when prepared their way, yielded a product of robust flavor with only 40% the fat of other leading brands of potato chips. Entering the market with Original and Onion & Garlic varieties, Terra's Golds™ Potato Chips lived up to their predecessors, continuing the high standards of quality and ingenuity on which Terra was founded.

In 1998, The Hain Celestial Group, one of the largest natural and specialty food companies, acquired Terra Chips. A dominant leader in many natural food categories, its well known brands include Celestial Seasonings® teas, Westsoy® soy milk, Earth's Best® organic baby food, and Health Valley® cereals, soups, and bars to name a few. Since then, the innovation has continued with the launch of Terra Blues® potato chips, made from naturally blue potatoes in July 1999, Terra Red Bliss potato chips made from Red Bliss® potatoes in December 1999, Terra Potpourri®, a unique blend of our favorite combination of potato chips in October 2000, and Terra Frites®, created out of the authentic Belgian potato snack served warm on the streets of Brussels in paper cones, made its debut in April 2001. The innovation didn't end there, when Terra's tradition transcended taste and introduced texture with a line of crispy and delicious Terra Kettle Blends Potato Chips in 2003. Our Sweets & Beets krinkle-cut chips combine our ever popular Sweet Potato Chips with these vibrant, mouth-watering beets to create another sweet delight from the Earth's own vegetables.

And 2006 brings an introduction of the delectable favorite from the ground-breaking Exotic Vegetable Chips, Terra Parnsips, put in a bag all its own for you to enjoy. Plus, we broke the mold and brought you the first ever line of all natural Unsalted Potato Chips with full-fledged flavor!

Terra Chips, still powered by consumer demand, continues to create gourmet combinations of vegetable and potato chip blends to entice any Epicurean palate. Keep your eyes on the site for previews of upcoming flavors and be the first to taste the new products by ordering online. The days of new creations are not over!