The story
In 1946, Jim Herr, then 21 years old, purchased a small potato chip company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Initial sales averaged approximately $30 a week (equivalent to $495 in 2025).
In 1958, the company introduced flavored potato chips and in 1974, switched to foil packaging from the traditional glassine bags. In the 1970s and 1980s there was a growth in the snack food industry which prompted an expansion in the variety of products being manufactured including corn chips, tortilla chips, and pretzels. The Herr Angus Farm, a cattle farm which made use of potato waste products, was added in the 1980s.
Herr began transferring control of the company to his sons, Ed Herr and J. M. Herr, in the 1990s. Ed took over as company spokesman. Jim retired as company chair in favor of J. M. Herr in January 2005, but remained on the board of directors.
Jim Herr died on April 5, 2012. Ed Herr and J. M. Herr assumed the roles of president and executive chairman respectively. As of December 2025, J. M. had retired and transferred the role of executive chairman to Ed. Ed's former role of president and CEO was transferred to his nephew, Troy Gunden.
From Wikipedia’s article on Herr's, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4