Draft:Covered Bridge (company)
Covered Bridge is a Canadian kettle potato chip company. Their main factory was in Hartland, New Brunswick before being destroyed in a fire in 2024.
History
[edit]Covered Bridge relies on its family-friendly marketing to compete with bigger potato chip brands in Canada.[1] The business uses russet potatoes for its kettle chips, which are cooked at a lower temperature than traditional potato chips. Covered Bridge uses these differences to market itself as a healthier alternative. The company was founded by Ryan Albright, who entered the business as a way to make his family's potato farming business more profitable.[2] Plant tours were offered to tourists during the summer months,[3] which formed a significant part of their revenue. The company uses equipment that was designed for the production of their chips specifically, with Albright acquiring electrical and welding licenses in order to do so.[4]
In 2016, factory employees striked for five months under the United Food and Commercial Workers union. The labour dispute lasted that long because Covered Bridge did not want to recognize itself as a unionized workplace.[5] Covered Bridge requested that the New Brunswick Labour and Employment Board dismantle the union, which was denied.[6] In 2017, their factory received $867,000 in funding through a mix of provincial and federal loans, in order to extensive renovations.[7]
In March 2024, their factory was destroyed in a fire, which was their main production facility for chips. An accident in the frying room is the suspected cause of the fire. It quickly became out of control and melted all the metal in the building.[8] 120 employees were laid off after the fire.[9] A local church organized an event to fundraise for the impacted employees.[10] The company outsourced its potato chip production to other companies and renovated their warehouse in Woodstock as a "seasoning station" shortly afterwards.[9] In October 2024, Albright was replaced in his position as CEO, after being charged with domestic violence in the United States.[11] Covered Bridge plans to open a replacement factory by the end of 2025.[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Thiessen 2017, p. 94.
- ^ Thiessen 2017, p. 95.
- ^ Thiessen 2017, p. 98.
- ^ Thiessen 2017, p. 99.
- ^ McHardie, Daniel. "Covered Bridge Potato Chips strike ends after 5 months". CBC News. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ "Covered Bridge Potato Chips loses labour court ruling". CBC News. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ Mackinnon, Bobbi-Jean. "Covered Bridge Potato Chips expands with $867K in government money". CBC News. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ Bailey, Mitchell. "N.B. potato chip company 'hitting the ground running' to rebuild after massive fire". Global News. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ a b Belliveau, Katelin. "Covered Bridge Potato Chips keeps the snacks coming with makeshift plant". CBC News. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ Dumville, Jim. "Benefit breakfast for Covered Bridge Potato Chips workers attracts a massive crowd and lots of donations". PNI Atlantic News. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ Farley, Sam. "Covered Bridge Chips announces new leader after CEO arrested in Maine". CBC News. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ Brown, Laura. "'Bigger and better and stronger than ever': Covered Bridge Chips president sets sights for late 2025 rebuild after fire". CTV News. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
Sources
[edit]- Thiessen, Janis (2017). Snacks: A Canadian Food History. University of Manitoba Press. ISBN 9780887555275.