Wise Potato Chips are described by Wise Foods as the first commercially produced potato chips in the United States.
Earl Wise Sr. founded Wise Foods in Berwick, Pennsylvania, in 1921. He began selling potato chips made from surplus potatoes from his family's grocery business. The chips were packed in brown paper bags and sold locally.
Wise Foods later expanded its snack range to include pretzels, cheese snacks, and other products. The company became particularly associated with the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
Claims about the “first” potato chip can vary because early chips were made and sold by many small producers. The famous story that potato chips were invented by George Crum at Saratoga Springs is also debated. Wise's claim specifically concerns commercial production by its company.