San Nicasio is a Spanish brand of gourmet potato chips, established in 1999. The slow cooked chips have won a number of food industry awards for quality and have received a level of notoriety due to the high price tag of the product.
 Brand logo, 2012 | |
| Industry | Snack foods |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | , Spain |
| Products | Potato chips |
| Website | sannicasio |
History
editSan Nicasio was established in 1999 in Priego de Córdoba, in the Andalusian mountains of Spain, by Rafael del Rosal Lopez and his wife Carmen Osuna.[1] They are being distributed by Fayrefield Foods in the UK, who are targeting distributors such as Harvey Nichols and Harrods.[2]
Product
edit
San Nicasio are handmade small-batch potato chips, made with Catalan potatoes, extra virgin olive oil and Himalayan pink salt (a marketing term for rock salt mined in Khewra Salt Mines, Pakistan).[3][4] The olive oil used has the "Priego de Córdoba" denomination of origin.[5] As of 2012[update], they are only available in salted flavour and two sizes, 40 g (1.4 oz) and 190 g (6.7 oz).[6]
Cooking
editThe chips are slow cooked, unlike most other brand-name chips.[6][7][8] According to owner Lopez this is "to prevent the formation of undesirable substances".[6]
Pricing
editIn 2011, the product received press coverage on release in the United Kingdom due to the £4 pricing for the larger packet, almost double the market standard.[2][3] Grocery magazine The Grocer asked "will British crisp-lovers fork out almost four quid for a new super-premium snack?", although it did not speculate on the answer to this question.[9] The Rich Times stated that analysts "are as yet divided" as to whether or not a product at this price point "makes any sense".[10]
Awards
editThe brand has won a number of food industry awards and certifications.
- 2008 Monde Selection Gold medal[8][11]
- 2009 Monde Selection Gold medal[8][11]
- 2010 Monde Selection Gold medal[8][11]
- 2010 Monde Selection International High Quality Trophy (for 3 consecutive gold medals)[12]
- 2011 Monde Selection Gold medal[11]
- 2011 Expoliva award for "Best Food made with Olive Oil"[13]
- 2012 Monde Selection Gold medal[11]
References
edit- ^ "San Nicasio Crisps". Reality Sense. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ a b "£4 San Nicasio luxury crisps to hit the shops in UK". Metro. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ a b Sayid, Ruki (18 May 2011). "Posh crisps to go on sale for £4 a bag". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012. Alt URL
- ^ "You need to know about: Lambrucha and San Nicasio Patatas Fritas". Time Out New York. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ "Capital move for Spanish crisps". Fayrefield.com. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ a b c "Official product page". SanNicasio. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ "Healthy Spanish Potato Chips | International Food Blog". Ziibest.com. 19 March 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d "San Nicasio premium Spanish crisps". Regional Food & Drink. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
- ^ "Top-tier crisps to tap into taste for tapas". The Grocer. 14 May 2011.
- ^ "London gets 'Luxury Crisps' – that's Posh Potato Chips for the rest of us". The Rich Times. 18 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "Quinta medalla de oro a la calidad". Info Restauracion. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.(in Spanish)
- ^ "The International High Quality Trophy – 2010". Monde Selection. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ "Una segunda jornada de Expoliva repleta de actos". Diario Digital Agrario. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.(in Spanish)