Real Crisps

Real Crisps are a potato chip (crisp) brand. The company was founded in 1997, and expanded over the following decade to become a business turning over £15 million a year. In 2007, it was purchased by the Northern Ireland based crisp manufacturer Tayto. In 2012, a fire caused the destruction of the 65,000 square feet (6,000 m²) Real Crisp factory in Crumlin, Caerphilly. There are a range of flavours produced, and the company ran a limited edition political themed range prior to the United Kingdom general election, 2010.

Real Crisps was founded in 1997, with the intention of manufacturing hand-cooked potato chip (crisps) for independent retailers and pubs. After a financial investment in 1999, the company changed its name to become Sirhowy Valley Foods, while maintaining Real Crisps as the brand name of the lead product.

In August 2005, Real Crisps moved into a new factory in Crumlin, Caerphilly. The new factory, measuring 65,000 square feet (6,000 m²), increased the production capacity by 50 percent. This enabled the 90 staff to produce 37,000 cases of crisps per week. The move was due to demand outstripping the ability to supply at the previous location in Cwmfelinfach. At this point, Real Crisps were the second biggest company behind Kettle Foods in the hand-cooked crisp market within the UK. It had seen turnover increase from £1.3 million in 2001/2 to £5.3 million during 2003/4.

The Northern Ireland based crisp manufacturer Tayto purchased Sirhowy Valley Foods in 2007. Contracts had been arranged with British supermarket chains Tescos, Asda and Sainsbury's, taking the turnover of the company to £15 million in a year. Following this, and Tayto's acquisition of Golden Wonder previously, they became the third biggest crisp manufacturer in the UK. That same year, Real Crisps began to export to France.

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