Today, Kitchen Cooked Inc. is a modern food processing operation that brings the simple goodness of fresh, greaseless potato chips and snacks to thousands of Central Illinoisans every day. However, to understand the real beauty behind Kitchen Cooked, you must first examine it’s past…..

THEN…

The story humbly began during the Great Depression of the 1930's. During those turbulent times, Mrs. Flossie Howard and her family began making potato chips as a way to help supplement the family’s income. Their efforts included the tedious process of peeling, slicing and cooking by hand the potatoes in small, cast iron kettles. Their small business located in the front portion of an abandoned church, would also serve as their home in the small Central Illinois community of Farmington.

The homemade chips were a huge success in Farmington and soon word spread to other nearby communities. The fresh and tasty potato chips were becoming quite popular! The Howards were soon able to begin distribution in nearby Canton and Hanna City, Illinois with the help of Betty Ann Bakery delivery trucks.

Flossie and her family ran the small but profitable business for nearly 35 years. Mr. Howard passed away in the early 1970's, but Flossie and a close friend continued on in the business. Then in 1973, when Flossie’s own health started to fail, the decision was made to retire and sell the business to local Hanna City resident, Dick Blackhurst.

Dick saw great potential and had future expansion plans in mind for the business. In 1976 a brand new potato chip factory was constructed in Bushnell, IL with friend and partner, Corey Starcevich. Dick then went on to build another operating plant in Farmington, IL in 1978. The chips were gaining quite a reputation. Supply and demand was high. The two factories were distributing a massive amount of product to an ever-growing market. Not surprisingly, Kitchen Cooked Potato Chips had become a permanent fixture in Central Illinois!

NOW…

The company’s desire to pursue the growth of their product lines lead to the development of yet another major project in 1995. Dick, with the help of his son, Paul Blackhurst, built an incredible 20,500 square foot addition to the existing plant in Farmington. This opened the door for new market areas and new product lines with maximum investment returns! Paul has since expanded many local distribution areas which include Central Illinois, West Central Illinois and parts of Eastern Iowa. Kitchen Cooked currently maintains 22 direct store delivery routes with 28 salesmen and 71 employees.

We still proudly use the simple, old-fashioned recipe implemented in the 1930’s. It is greatly responsible for the tremendous successes of Kitchen Cooked Inc. How is this possible you ask?…

…Kitchen Cooked can purchase potatoes from the nearby community of Bath, Illinois. The potatoes are then delivered direct to the factories. They are washed, peeled, sliced and cooked in small batches – started by hand. They’re then packaged and out on the store shelves-- ALL within the same day!

Ours is a close-knit team whose members have a strong desire to keep business on the “cutting edge”. Positive response from local customers and now those online from all over the country, only motivates us more in our endeavors to maintain the highest level of quality products. We sincerely thank you for your patronage!