Bell Brand Potato Chips

by Bell Brand Foods

1925 – 1995 GONE FOREVER

Gone since July 1995, when the snack company closed after its owner failed to find a buyer. The Bell Brand dip mixes sold today are not the chips.

Last verified Nov 8, 2026

Southern California's hometown chip — 'If it's Bell, it's swell!' — fought Lay's and Granny Goose for Los Angeles lunchboxes from its Santa Fe Springs plant, adding corn chips, cheese curls and pretzels along the way.

🧾 One more thingFounder Cyril Nigg, who started the company in 1925, later became a UCLA regent. The Bell Brand name survives today only on dip mixes made by a different company.

Filed under: Snacks & Chips · the ’70s & earlier

🎲 Remember another one 🛒 Test your memory

📅 Timeline

1925Cyril C. Nigg founded Bell Brand Foods in Southern California.
1995In July the Los Angeles Times reported the snack food division would close; the company shut down that month.
1999Nigg's Los Angeles Times obituary noted his later role as a UCLA regent.

❓ People also ask

Can you still buy Bell Brand chips?

No. The company closed in July 1995. The name now appears only on dip mixes from another company.

Where were Bell Brand chips made?

In Santa Fe Springs, California, where the company also made tortilla chips, corn chips, cheese curls and pretzels.

🧾 Sources

Los Angeles Times, Snack Food Division to Close (1995)
Los Angeles Times, Cyril Nigg; UCLA Regent, Ex-Chief of Bell Brand Foods (1999)
Wikipedia, Bell Brand Snack Foods (2026)

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