On Smith's Chips's official history page, PepsiCo is mentioned 0 times. The brand tells a story of Australian origin while the corporate reality is carefully omitted.
Ultra-processed snack food containing multiple additives, flavour enhancers, and industrial ingredients beyond simple potato, oil, and salt.
Smith's was founded in Sydney in 1931 by George Garret Smith, making it a genuinely Australian invention during the Depression era. The company pioneered the salted chip with a separate blue salt sachet — an iconic Australian memory. For decades it was family-owned, then acquired by various corporations including Nabisco. In 1998, PepsiCo absorbed Smith's through its Frito-Lay division, adding it to a global snack empire that includes Lay's, Doritos, and Cheetos. Today it operates under PepsiCo's Australian subsidiary, though the packaging still leans heavily into nostalgic Australian imagery.
Smith's marketing emphasises Australian origins, summer barbecues, and local sporting events while the PepsiCo connection requires detective work to uncover. The website's 'Our Story' section celebrates the 1931 founding without mentioning the brand hasn't been Australian-owned for over 25 years.
Every packet purchased sends profits to PepsiCo's headquarters in Purchase, New York. PepsiCo reported over $91 billion USD in revenue in 2023, with Frito-Lay representing the company's most profitable division. Australian chip money funds American shareholder dividends.
Buying Smith's supports American multinational profits rather than Australian food manufacturing ownership. While some production jobs remain local, the economic value flows offshore. You're paying for the memory of Australian ownership that ended in 1998.
Try Kettle Chips (wait, also multinational-owned now). For genuinely Australian: consider Thomas Chipman organic chips (Australian family-owned), or Piranha chips made in Victoria. Local deli chips from regional producers also exist if you hunt for them.