Heartland Potato Chips is New Zealand's only 100% owned and operated potato chip company, based at 23 Sheffield Street in Washdyke, Timaru. Every chip starts in a New Zealand paddock — specifically the Bowan family's Fallgate farm just outside Timaru in South Canterbury — before travelling a short 30km down the road to the Heartland factory, where the potatoes are sliced, cooked, packaged and sent to shops across New Zealand and beyond, including Singapore and Australia.
The company is the work of South Canterbury farmer Raymond Bowan, who grew up around potatoes, earning pocket money as a young lad digging spuds on a neighbouring property. Years later, when the local chip factory closed its doors, Raymond seized the chance to fulfil a lifelong dream, and Heartland Chips was born. Today it stands as a genuine Kiwi success story: locally grown, locally made, from their farm to you.
Care shows up at every stage of the process. Potatoes are nurtured at Fallgate, harvested by hand-like care, then cooked in High Oleic Sunflower Oil and Canola Oil — never palm oil — and finished with gluten-free flavourings. The range covers five distinct styles: Wave Cut, Extreme Crunch, Kettle Cooked, Thick Cut and Nude, so there's a chip for every crunch preference and dipping habit.
You'll find Heartland chips in supermarkets and shops throughout New Zealand, including New World, PAK'nSAVE, Countdown, FreshChoice, Four Square, Moore Wilson's, Raeward Fresh and Supervalu, or order directly through the online shop. Fans are vocal about their loyalty — one customer writes: "Keep up the good work making the best chips we've seen in a long time. Our favourite is Southern Sea Salt. Delicious!"
Some chips are made by global conglomerates. Heartland Potato Chips, based in Washdyke, Timaru, is New Zealand's only 100% owned and operated potato chip company — potatoes grown by a New Zealand farmer, in a New Zealand paddock, processed in a New Zealand-owned factory. As the company itself puts it: it's fair to say a potato chip doesn't get more Kiwi-made than that.
The story begins with South Canterbury farmer Raymond Bowan, who grew up around potatoes. As a young lad he earned his pocket money digging up spuds on the neighbouring property, coming home after a long day's work with mud on his boots, dirt under his nails and a satisfied grin on his face. What started as an after-school job evolved into a lifelong dream.
That dream got its chance when the local chip factory closed its doors. Raymond seized the opportunity, and Heartland Chips was born. Today the potatoes used in every bag are grown on the Bowan family farm at Fallgate, just outside Timaru. When they leave Fallgate, they travel just 30km down the road to the Heartland Chip factory in Washdyke, where they're sliced, cooked, packaged and distributed to outlets throughout New Zealand, Singapore and around Australia. It's a genuinely short supply chain — from their farm to you.
Heartland is upfront that its chips' look, taste — and even sound — are no accident. It's the product of relentless care and attention to detail at every stage of manufacturing. It starts with the perfect soil and the finest potato variety, with the premium Fallgate Farm potatoes tenderly nurtured as they grow and harvested with care before that short journey to a state-of-the-art factory.
In the factory, the potatoes are transformed into crispy delights cooked in High Oleic Sunflower Oil and Canola Oil — and never any palm oil — then sprinkled with gluten-free flavourings. From there the chips make their way to supermarkets and shops across New Zealand and beyond.
The range is built around five distinct styles, so every kind of chip lover is covered:
Fans have their favourites. As customer Dee Reid puts it: "Keep up the good work making the best chips we've seen in a long time. Our favourite is Southern Sea Salt. Delicious!"
Heartland chips are stocked widely across New Zealand — you'll spot them at New World, PAK'nSAVE, Countdown, FreshChoice, Four Square, Moore Wilson's, Raeward Fresh and Supervalu. If you'd rather go straight to the source, the online shop at heartlandchips.co.nz ships the full range, and the company's home base at 23 Sheffield Street in Washdyke, Timaru is where the whole operation comes together.
From a boy digging spuds for pocket money to a brand exported to Singapore and Australia, Heartland Potato Chips is a true Kiwi success story — one genuinely exceptional, 100% Kiwi potato chip that's a cut above the rest.