Collection: Zapp's

When Ron Zappe’s oil-field dreams went sideways in the ’80s, his wife brought home a bag of kettle-cooked chips—and he cracked the code: chips were the new pumps. He asked 10 banks for funding and got laughed out of the room. The 11th said “oui,” and he turned an old Chevy dealership in Gramercy into a chip factory—where teenagers watched fries sizzle and got busy in the car. That’s how Zapp’s got its sweet—and spicy—start.

While everyone else was making “meh” chips, Zapp’s cranked up the heat with peanut oil and Louisiana spice. His first flavor, Crawtator, was basically a seafood boil in snack form—and locals lost their minds. Zapp’s was suddenly the snack aisle’s loudest, boldest party guest.

One day, a spice pallet toppled over, creating a wild, mysterious mix. Ron didn’t toss it—he bagged it. The result was Voodoo, a sweet-savory-spicy smash hit that became a cult favorite. Proof that at Zapp’s, happy accidents taste like magic.

Zapp’s didn’t just make snacks—they made noise. A toll-free hotline for snack emergencies, packaging so wild it doubled as a Halloween costume, and a vibe so Louisiana you could practically hear the brass band in every crunch.