International Directory of Company Histories. 4.2. As a result, the partners decided to make their own chips, and in 1940 they invested in an $18,000 automatic potato chip maker and leased space at 40th Street and Princeton Avenue in Chicago to begin making potato chips under the Mrs. Japp's label. It was during this time that Japp's wife Eugenia, who was an accomplished cook and had once run a chain of bakeries, came up with an idea that has since become standard in the food industry: placing recipes on the packaging to tell consumers how to use the product. Mueller, Jim, "Still Chipper at 92," Chicago Tribune, December 1, 1996. Operating in several Midwestern states, Jays Foods' potato chips and popcorn maintain significant shares of their respective markets. In 1927 Japp and a friend, a dissatisfied bus driver, decided to go into business for themselves. Forced to act quickly, Japp and Johnson sought a new name. Pareve. Brand names included Jays Potato Chips, O-KE-DOKE popcorns, Krunchers! Encyclopedia.com. Now owned by Snyder Lance, a Pennsylvania-based company, the brand maintains a presence in the midwest. Japp took a new partner in 1938, a Kraft salesman named George Johnson. Jays Potato Chips | 26 followers on LinkedIn. Jays products are sold throughout Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and to a lesser extent in Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri. However, what seemed like a safe and logical choice for a brand name soon proved otherwise. Their primary choice was Jax, but it had already been trademarked by a brewing company, and so they settled on the available "Jays," and Mrs. Jays Potato Chips and Jays Foods were born. Lay's. "Every time I went to the store I'd go to the snack food rack and compare brands and prices." While Borden had made some investments in Jays plants, it had allowed the operation to deteriorate in many ways while transferring some operations to other Borden units. If you're from the Chicago area, you probably grew up eating Jay's Potato Chips. $4.19. U.S.A. Add to shopping cart. Japp managed to scrape by, working as a truck driver and a window washer, and picking up some extra money by serving as a sparring partner for Buddy Baer, brother of the heavyweight boxing champion Max Baer. Surviving them both was 96-year-old Leonard Japp, Sr., but he too succumbed in August 2000 following a lengthy illness. International Directory of Company Histories. Camden, New Jersey 08103-1799 Through the purchase of their assets, Snyder's of Hanover will continue to produce Krunchers!™ Kettle Chips, O-KE-DOKE™ Popcorn and Jays™ Potato Chips. ." International Directory of Company Histories. Warranty claim information JAYS Support can only handle warranty claims if your product has been purchased from www.jaysheadphones.com. But that keeps Jays' 400 employees there busy on three shifts a day. (507) 437-5611 For Jays' employees the sale represented a happy homecoming, the return of Leonard Japp, Sr., and Jr., who had always maintained warm relationships with the workers. Japp’s Chips” for Japp’s wife, the name was changed to Jays in 1941 due to anti-Japanese sentiment during World War II. The family members divided the proceeds and went their separate ways. Jays solidified its position and expanded beyond the city into other Midwest markets, aided in large part by advertising, becoming one of the first snack companies to launch full-scale campaigns. Leading a lot of the spanish speaking women was a very fulfilling position. Still miss the place Jay's Chicago This series shines a spotlight on ordinary people who do extraordinary things – from pursuing unusual passions, to finding innovative ways to meet daunting challenges, to practicing unique art forms – these individuals make Chicago a lively, interesting, and fun place to live. Public Company "Jays Foods, Inc. Credit for the idea was a matter of dispute, however. Jays sells fun food products that people love. Museum Artifact: Jays Potato Chip Tin, 1950s Made By: Jays Foods, Inc., 825 E. 99th Street, Chicago, IL [Pullman] For over 75 years, Chicagoans have voraciously chomped away on handfuls of Jays Potato Chips—sharing in the communal assumption that some guy named Jay must have invented the salty snack for them back in the proverbial day. But the story may surprise you. Leading a lot of the spanish speaking women was a very fulfilling position. $11.99 $ 11. Fax: (949) 255-20…, founded: 1919 as nebraska consolidated mills Jays Foods was founded in 1927 in Chicago, Illinois and is currently a subsidiary of Snyder's of Hanover. Starting around 1977 Borden, Inc., began courting Jays, making periodic low-ball offers that the Japp family rejected. $1.49. No products listed on PotatoPro.com for Jays Potato Chips, No production facilities listed for Jays Potato Chips, No subsidiaries listed for Jays Potato Chips. JAY'S SHOESTRING Potato Chips A Chicago Original 10 Pack 1 oz bags. Jay's Foods was acquired by Snyder's of Hanover in December 2007. Refer to each style’s convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. However, the date of retrieval is often important. Originally called Japp’s, the brand changed its name during World War II. 237 people like this. The younger Japp, on the other hand, maintained that he broached the subject by asking his father, "Do you want to go back to work?" Demetrakakes, Pan, "New Owners Put a Lot of Chips into Snacks," Food & Drug Packaging, April 2005, p. 34. ." Annual sales reached $50 million in 1981 and grew to about $64 million in 1985. Potato Chips, and a line of Hot Stuff snacks. In 1934 he began packaging the snacks under his own name. . Incorporated: 1925 as Dean Evaporated Mi…, Gardenburger Inc Whether Jays Foods would regain its former glory, or at least find a niche as a profitable regional company able to contend with Frito-Lay, remained to be seen. In the postwar years, Japp continued to expand Jays, one of a number of secondary brands to the Chicago market leader, Mrs. Klein's, and by the start of the 1950s Jays had eclipsed Mrs. Klein's, becoming the city's top potato chip brand. Retrieved October 16, 2020 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/jays-foods-inc. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). U.S.A. 238 people follow this. It was during the early 1950s that Leonard Japp, Jr., began working at Jays when on leave from the Marines. "I smelled the roses for a few years, but then I got bored," he admitted to the Sun-Times. Kettle Chips, O-Ke-Doke popcorn were added to the Snyder's portfolio in late 2007 upon the acquisition of Chicago based Jays Foods and the former Wyandot, Select Snacks production plant in Jeffersonville, Indiana, that was renamed Krunchers! The new owner of Jays Foods could well be a chip off the old family block. JAYS Sour N' Dill Potato Chips A Chicago Original 5 Pack 1.25oz bags. Toll Free: (800) 459-7059 At the same time the company and the Japp family suffered a string of tragedies. Jays filed bankruptcy in 2007, and sold out to Snyder's of Hanover. Supplying speakeasies proved to be a thriving enterprise, and soon the young partners were able to pay cash for brand new frying vats and a fleet of four trucks. Jays' sales dipped to $113 million in 1999, leading to a management restructuring and renewed focus on quality in late 1999. 16 Oct. 2020 . Specialties: As a long time Chicago native, I will provide an authentic Vienna Beef Hotdog on a S. Rosen steamed poppy seed bun, Polish Sausage, Bratwurst, Italian Beef Sandwich with a Gonnella Roll (only at private events), Jay's Potato… Fax: (412) 237-3584 Through the years, Jays has added to its snack foods, but potato chips constitute 70 percent of sales. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for Jays Potato Chips locations in Chicago, IL. 4.3 out of 5 stars 36. Jays Original Potato Chips - 2.5oz. The company is a subsidiary of Ubiquity Brands, formed by Chicago private investment firm Willis Stein & Partners in 1999 after acquiring Jays and another area company, Lincoln Snacks. 89 ($1.79/Ounce) FREE Shipping. Japp was a hard worker, sometimes holding as many as four jobs simultaneously. $5.99. Jay's Chicago: Windy City Tastes Comes South, Long time Chicago native, providing an authentic Vienna Beef Hotdog on a S. Rosen steamed poppy seed bun, Polish Sausage, Italian Beef Sandwich with a Gonnella Roll, Jay’s Potato Chips and a cold beverage from a mobile Hot Dog cart for the lunch time crowd and private events throughout the Nashville and surrounding counties. Pretzels, corn chips, cheese dips, and other products are made elsewhere. Web site: http://www.hormel.com Anderson, Veronica, "A Dip in Chips for Jays," Crain's Chicago Business, November 20, 1995, p. 3. Thus, with an investment of $27.50, of which $22.50 was spent on an inventory of nuts and pretzels, Japp & Gavora Food Co. was formed. Potato Chips, Sweet Baby Jays sweet potato chips, and Hot Stuff snacks. The company's momentum would begin to stall, however, as industry giant Frito-Lay continued to flex its muscle. Management allowed us to take bags of chips to our families on Fridays. "We are pleased to be able to keep the Jays' tradition alive in Chicago,"said Carl E. Lee, President and CEO of Snyder's of Hanover. . 99th and Cottage Grove (1,597.44 mi) The stock market crash of October 1929 resulted in bank runs, one of which struck the Casper State Bank, which held the assets of Japp & Gavora, now ruined. In Chicago many of them were run by gangsters, headed by the notorious Al Capone. Jay's Foods was a US Snack Food Company from the Chicago area. © 2019 Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. Telephone: (412) 237-5700 With the potato chips back on the shelves under the Jays name they became Chicago’s premier potato chip. Other brands include O-KE-DOKE popcorn, Krunchers! Rotzoll, Brenda Warner, "Leonard Japp, 96, Maker of Famous Potato Chip Snack," Chicago Sun-Times, August 27, 2000, p. 65. Jays, which makes Jays and Krunchers! Still miss the place Japp and Gavora went their own ways as the country became mired in the Great Depression. FREE Shipping. Log In. Since his father's death a number of companies had made offers to buy Jays Foods, and the family now decided to sell. JAY'S Ultimate Original Variety Pack Potato Chips 10 Pack 1.25oz bags Jays also sells such snacks as caramel corn, corn puffs, pork skins, and shoestring potatoes. The 1920s was a time of Prohibition and the resulting illegal drinking establishments known as speakeasies. Jays. Sales soared for Special Foods, but the Wisconsin company soon closed its doors. OK. From the package: “Ingredients: Potatoes, Corn Oil, Salt.” Online store: Buy potato chips on Amazon #ad . Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"449472be9c3beddaf60646e1cb2851fe5a3ac486-1607768417-86400"}; Fax: (856) 342-3878 In addition to expanding geographically, Jays added new products, including pretzels, popcorn, and tortilla chips. After the Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, grocery stores began demanding that the potato chips be removed from their shelves since "Jap" had quickly become a derogatory term for the much-despised enemy. 31 check-ins. Case – 36 bags. $2.20. Doing business in Chicago, along with another 15 or so potato chips companies, Jays managed to grow, with sales reaching $750,000 a year. Japp finally got lucky when he borrowed $10 to bet on a horse, a 100 to one long shot that paid off. Franklin Park, Illinois 60131 ." If you did not buy the product from www.jaysheadphones.com, then contact the reseller that sold you the product to make the warranty claim. 62. With the backing of its new corporate parent, Jays introduced its first new product in several years, Sweet Baby Jays, a crisp made from sweet potatoes. Jay's potato chips (and pork rinds and O-Ke-Doke popcorn), although they're owned by Snyder's now. The youth's name was Leslie Townes Hope, who fought under the name Packy East and later adopted the stage name of Bob Hope. Austin, Minnesota 55912-3680 Gunset, George, and Wilma Randle, "Founding Family Just Can't Stop Making Jays Chips," Chicago Tribune, August 26, 1994. 1930s Triangle Supply Co Michigan Ave Chicago IL Matchbook Cover. - 2.5oz. Local Business in Chicago, Illinois. It was at Leonard Japp, Sr.'s, 90th birthday party that the family decided to try to buy back the family business. Our continued success is determined by how well we fulfill our promises—every day—to our customers and consumers. Not Now. There was always a chance to advance by their job postings. The son of a railroad section hand father and a mother in poor health, Japp learned the necessity of hard work early, at the age of six helping the family by scavenging for coal along the railroad tracks and going door to door peddling holy pictures and bluing to wash clothes. Jays Foods, Inc. is an American manufacturer of snack products including potato chips, popcorn and pretzels. Recalls 18 Cases of Jays Original Potato Chips Because of Undeclared Milk Allergen, Auction processing equipment Jay's Foods: January 24 in Chicago, IL or Online, Auction of former Jays Potato Chips production Lines and Packaging Machines. Through the purchase of their assets, Snyder's of Hanover will continue to produce Krunchers!™ Kettle Chips, O-KE-DOKE™ Popcorn and Jays™ Potato Chips. The company was Blue Star's largest customer but its demands were too great. There was always a chance to advance by their job postings. Public Company When he was 12 he traveled far from home to follow the wheat harvest from Kansas to the Canadian border. Upon his discharge he joined the company on a full-time basis and eventually succeeded his father as president, leading the company through the 1970s and into the mid-1980s. or. . Howe took over as president with Leonard, Jr., serving as chair and CEO and Leonard, Sr., holding the title of chairman emeritus. $3.59. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 Because of wartime restrictions on materials, Jays had to rely on used cartons, and Japp and his wife traveled widely in order to trade nylons for the stamps that were needed to acquire cooking oil for the vats and gas and oil to keep the delivery trucks on the road. Only potato chips and popcorn are made at the South Side plant, at 825 E. 99th St. Jays Potato Chips Factory. Find 19 listings related to Jays Potato Chips in Chicago on YP.com. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Jays. Former Jay's Potato Chips Factory (Chicago, Illinois) USA / Illinois / Calumet Park / Chicago, Illinois / East 99th Street , 825 RC Cola, not Chicago made but just because every cheap sandwich and pizza shop in Chicago … He bought another truck and returned to the snack business, distributing pretzels, taffy apples, and potato chips that he bought from Mrs. Fletcher's Potato Chip Co. Jay's Foods was a US Snack Food Company from the Chicago area. Jays makes the following flavors: Original (flat and Ridged) Hot Stuff Community See All. Jays potato chips are a staple of Chicagoland since the 1920s. Only 1 left in stock - order soon. Fax: (507) 437-5489 $1.49. Okay, they aren't really potato chips or kettle chips, but for Texans, good tortilla corn chips win every time.We know, El Milagro isn't from Texas. jays foods inc. #1005 (no title) [COPY]25 Goal Hacks Report – Doc – 2018-04-29 10:32:40 Fax: (708) 671-8744 Jays was a really great place to work at. For over 10 years, PotatoPro is the proud online information provider of the global potato industry, with thousands of news articles, company descriptions, industry events and statistics. Unit Type: Clear: Jays Hot Stuff Corn Chip (1.25 oz) quantity. 99. Chips; Jays Hot Stuff Corn Chip (1.25 oz) Shop. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. The changes initiated in 1999 began to pay off in the new century, resulting in an improvement in sales to around $130 million in 2002. Business soon fell off, however, and revenues dipped to $120 million in 2003 and continued to fall in the early months of 2004. Originally named “Mrs. Loose – 1 bag. In 1955 the company moved to its current manufacturing plant in South Chicago. The name Jays was available so we made it Jays Foods," Japp, Sr. said. The Brands still exist. Pretty soon, they started asking for potato chips. However, these beloved tortilla chips really caught on around the I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio. Irvine, California 92618 I'll always remember the smell of fried chips on that trip, and the sights and sounds of a great tour inside with forklifts and dozens of smiling faces behind ovens and machines. The website offers an online store. U.S.A. Brand names included Jays Potato Chips, O-KE-DOKE popcorns, Krunchers! 3600 North River Road Toll Free: (800) 257-8443 Jays also sells such snacks as caramel corn, corn puffs, pork skins, and shoestring potatoes. Our VISION is our commitment to fulfill the fun food desires of people, while providing WORLD-CLASS services. shipping: + $0.50 shipping . Because of the Depression she was especially interested in helping housewives stretch their food budgets. Inc. Together they formed Special Foods Co., supplying small Chicago grocery stores with a wide variety of goods, including spaghetti, noodles, jelly, salad dressing, and dog food, as well as candy, popcorn, and potato chips. 4.2 out of 5 stars. They chose to write down bids and agreed that the highest would be accepted by the other. Web site: http://www.oreida.com Jays Chips Ridges Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips - 10oz. "Jays Foods, Inc. Lay's Classic Potato Chips - 8oz. Frito-Lay, Inc.; Lance, Inc.; The Procter & Gamble Company. In addition to this, Krunchers! Matchbook Cover - Jays Potato Chips Chicago IL Un-Struck Not Used. "Finally," according to the Chicago Sun-Times, Leonard, Jr., told them, "If you people are serious, quit trying to steal the company and buy it for a fair price." Create New Account. The Japp family took on a partner, Tom E. Howe, the former president of Butterball Turkey Co., and bought Jays Foods from Borden for about $12 million in 1994. Despite a rocky ride full of ups and downs, Japp saw great success with his Chicago business, which provided the craved snack throughout the Midwest. Potato Chips, and a line of Hot Stuff snacks. In all, they came up with 30 possibilities. In order to handle a warranty claim, a valid That's not so for potato chips, even Jays: They're ubiquitous at supermarkets across the Chicago area. Completed in conjunction with a filing for bankruptcy protection, Jays foods was sold to the private equity firm of Willis Stein & Partners for $26 million in May 2004. First, in October 1999 Leonard Japp, Jr., died suddenly, and then six months later his 40-year-old son, Leonard Japp III, died from an enlarged heart. Jays quickly returned to profitability, and in 1995 sales improved to $95 million, a number that jumped to $120 million in 1996. Chips, Pareve. Therefore, it’s best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publication’s requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. Other items were added as well to fill out the company's snack offerings, packaging graphics were changed, and about $13 million was invested to upgrade the Jays Chicago plant and another $5 million to acquire and refurbish a warehouse across the street, which would become a key component in improving distribution. As it turned out, Johnson bid $145,000, and Japp became the sole owner of Jays Foods. Borden decided to exit the snack food business, and unable to sell the unit as a whole, put the assets on the block piecemeal. //]]>, 825 East 99th StreetChicago, Illinois 60628-1590U.S.A.Telephone: (773) 731-8400Toll Free: (800) 621-6152Fax: (773) 933-2100Web site: http://www.jaysfoods.com, Private CompanyFounded: 1927Employees: 850Sales: $100 million (2006 est. $1.49. Within the “Cite this article” tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. headquarters: 1 conagra drive Product Title Jays Potato Chips, Sour Cream and Onion Ridges, 10 Oz Average Rating: ( 3.5 ) out of 5 stars 2 ratings , based on 2 reviews Current Price $16.48 $ 16 . Incorporated: 19…, Jayne, Billy 1969– (Billy Jacoby, William Jayne), https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/jays-foods-inc. $2.75. Krunchers! About See All. The company developed the slogan, "Can't stop eating 'em," drawn from the persistent comments received by people at food shows. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. shipping: + $3.99 shipping . Fortunately a veteran of free rail travel advised the young man to jump out before the train reached the station, where the railroad "bulls" took pleasure in working over anyone they caught in the cars. Jays Potato Chips is a consumer goods company based out of 1540 W 44th St, Chicago, Illinois, United States. Vintage Matchbook Cover Matchcover Jays Popcorn & Potato Chips. One of the recipes she developed and her husband persuaded Blue Star to print on the packaging became an American classic: tuna fish casserole with crumbled potato chips on top. After graduating from high school in 1921 at the age of 17 he hopped a milk train in Minnesota to move to Chicago. 15615 Alton Parkway, Suite 350 See more of Jays Potato Chips Factory on Facebook. Web site: http://www.…, 1 Hormel Place Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. How does Al Capone figure into the Jay's Potato Chip story? Gorman, John, "Jays Founder Japp Wasn't Always in the Chips," Chicago Tribune, November 25, 1985, p. C1. The Japps played catch-up, struggling to rebuild the company's infrastructure and distribution reach while launching new lower-fat products to remain competitive in a changing marketplace. As a result, the new owners had to rebuild the accounting, human resources, and data processing operations, and upgrade an aging delivery fleet that not only needed some new trucks but also computerized inventory-tracking equipment. omaha, ne 68102-5001 phone: (402)595-4000 fax: (402)595-4702 url: http://w…, 357 6th Avenue Jays Jalapeno Kettle Cooked Krunchers! Supposedly, Jays' slogan prompted Lays Potato Chips to create the long running "Bet you can't eat just one" campaign that began in 1963. (October 16, 2020). U.S.A. Forgot account? Other brands include O-KE-DOKE popcorn, Krunchers! Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Jun 23, 2014 - Former Jays Potato Chips factory at 99th & Cottage Grove. Increasing health concerns over high-fat snacks hurt business, as did the steep price discounting in the industry and high promotional spending. Telephone: (856) 342-4800 Gallagher, Patricia, "Second Chip Dip for Jays Buyer Will Be Tough One," Crain's Chicago Business, August 29, 1994, p. 3. Company: Jays Foods, L.L.C. Dirty and hungry, Japp stopped at a tavern run by a Lithuanian immigrant named Bachus, who not only allowed the young man to wash up, but also fed him, helped him find a job at Continental Can, and let him sleep in the bar until he received his first paycheck and could afford a room. "My partner, George Gavora, and I knew about the speaks," Japp recalled in a 1985 interview with the Chicago Tribune, "so we decided to buy an old broken down truck for $5 down to sell pretzels, nuts, cigarettes, what they needed for sandwiches. Japp was not pleased with the quality of Mrs. Fletcher's chips, and eagerly switched to a new lighter chip fried in corn oil that was made by a company in Madison, Wisconsin. 3.9 out of 5 stars 28. Jays was founded in the 1920s by Leonard Japp Sr., … The company went into bankruptcy protection in October 2007. Borden, in the meantime, planned to introduce Jays as a national brand and bought more snack companies, but Borden did not fare well in the new venture. [CDATA[ A good athlete handy with his fists, Japp worked as a bouncer and a lifeguard at the Oak Street Beach, along with a fellow named Johnny Weismuller, who would go on to become an Olympic gold medal winning swimmer and be even better known as "Tarzan" in the popular movie series. https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/jays-foods-inc, "Jays Foods, Inc. Jays. His reply was, "Yeah, why not?". Leonard Japp's son, Steven, took over as Jays chief executive officer. Wholly Owned Subsi…, One Campbell Place Jays bolstered its position in the market by including recipes on its bags of chips created by Japp’s wife, Eugenia. "We are pleased to be able to keep the Jays' tradition alive in Chicago," said Carl E. … A new source for chips was found at the Rockford, Illinois, Blue Star Foods, Inc. Leonard, Jr., for example, bred horses in Tennessee. Willis Stein formed Ubiquity Brands to house the two companies. Encyclopedia.com. $3.89. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Smell test: Regular potato chips smell. (847) 678-1680 U.S.A. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Special Foods expanded its fleet of delivery trucks and steadily dropped the items it carried in favor of potato chips. Jays Foods, Inc., is a Chicago, Illinois-based full-line snack food company best known for its Jays Potato Chips. Snyder's closed the Chicago plant (then served by NS) in 2007, and over 500 people lost their jobs. The Japp family plan had been to evaluate the situation of the company after ten years and Steven Japp now followed through and conducted a strategic review. They're actually from Chicago. Jays was cofounded by its longtime owner and chief executive, Leonard Japp, Sr., originally born Leonard Jepp in Wells, Minnesota, in the early 1900s. While Jays remained Chicago's top-selling potato chip, Jays Foods began losing money, $4 million in 1992, and a reported operating loss of $13.3 million a year later. Borden came back with a higher number, probably between $20 million and $30 million, and in 1986 the Japp family agreed to sell. Jays Hot Stuff Corn Chip (1.25 oz) $0.45 – $15.50 • In stock. It would all come to an end just as quickly, however. $17.89 $ 17. CHICAGO (AP) — Bankrupt potato-chip maker Jays Foods Inc. will close its plant on Chicago's South Side on Wednesday, putting 220 people out of work, the company said. 48 Arndorfer, James B., "It's Crunch Time for Owners of Jays," Crain's Chicago Business, August 11, 2003, p. 1. International Directory of Company Histories. Leonard, Sr., contended that he jokingly asked his son, "How would you feel about buying the company back?" SKU: 103359. 4.4 out of 5 stars with 62 reviews. Potato Chips, Sweet Baby Jays sweet potato chips, and Hot Stuff snacks. Then, in 1944, Japp and Johnson decided to split up, agreeing that one of them would buy out the other. )NAIC: 311919 Other Snack Food Manufacturing. I didn't know anything about potato chips." Closed and for sale. His was very much a rags-to-riches story. Japp also did a little boxing, and on occasion his second would be an aspiring English-born vaudeville comedian who he failed to convince to drop show business and join him in a venture selling cemetery plots. Jays Foods, Inc., is a Chicago, Illinois-based full-line snack food company best known for its Jays Potato Chips. Now reaching close to a million people yearly, PotatoPro is also the ideal place to get your message out... Krunchers! Telephone: (949) 255-2000 Jays was a really great place to work at. Jays Open Pit BBQ Potato Chips - 2.5oz. Japp decided to offer $120,000 but his wife convinced him that if he really wanted to buy the business he should write down $150,000. //