Edgell makes it easier for you to select the right chips for your business

AN ICONIC AUSTRALIAN BRAND which traces its origins back to 1926, Edgell has built an enviable reputation over many decades as a trusted supplier to both retail and foodservice.

As the foodservice market has grown and evolved, Edgell has grown with it and is today dedicated to providing solutions that meet the needs of foodservice professionals across all types of establishments and outlets.

This expertise and commitment to finding value-added solutions is exemplified in Edgell’s extensive range of frozen chips, which are now being presented to the market within distinctive categories – an initiative designed to make it easier than ever before to select the right chips for your business.

Your favourite Edgell chip now falls within a particular category, such as Trusted Originals, Perfect Performers and Specialty. And for those who may be unfamiliar with the superior quality of Edgell chips, the new categories are a simple solution to help you identify your best choice.

“At Edgell, we’re dedicated to helping your business grow, and you might be surprised to learn how big a role your choice of chip can play in that,” says David White, Executive Chef for Simplot Australia Foodservice which owns the Edgell brand. “For many businesses, chips are the most profitable food item – and consumer demand is on the increase.”

Yield drives profitability

A common misconception is that choosing the chips with the cheapest cost per carton will give you the best value and profit. But as David points out, this is often false economy. “You need to think about yield – how many chips does it take to cover an empty space on the plate, or how many chips to fill up a chip cup or carton? Because it’s important to remember that you’re paying per kilo of chips, and some types of chips yield more per kilo than others.

“Yield is what drives profitability, not carton cost. The coating on the A-grade chips in our Perfect Performers range not only enhances taste and texture but also increases yield – so they deliver more servings, and more servings equals more profit. In contrast, budget chips with their typically higher moisture content and uncoated presentation have a lower yield when cooked.”

And when you bear in mind that each serving commands roughly eight times its food cost, it really is false economy to choose a budget product that’s a few dollars cheaper per carton - because you not only lose that ‘saving’ due to lower yield, you also miss out on the profit you could be generating by choosing a superior product with better yield.

But yield is just one of several factors you should take into account in choosing your chips. For example, if you’re running a high-throughput operation and want a basic, quality chip that’s uncoated and is designed to be cooked and consumed fast, Edgell’s Trusted Originals range may be your best choice - available in range of cut sizes. But if you’re running a burger chain or restaurant and want a chip that’s a little more distinctive and will set your offering apart from the crowd, a chip from the Perfect Performers range is a better bet.

What to consider in choosing the right chip

“There is an actual science in choosing the right chip,” David says. “Let’s start with whether you want a smaller or larger cut – smaller is higher yield and faster cooking but shorter hold time, whereas larger is lower yield but longer hold time.” As you can see, there’s a range of options depending on what’s best for your business.

“Next to consider is coated vs uncoated – as mentioned, not only does a coated chip deliver greater yield, but the coating can also act as a carrier of flavour and seasoning to enhance taste and texture. Coating also extends hold time, making the chip stay hotter and crispier for longer - so this is beneficial if your business has slow periods when your customer throughput drops down.”

Hold time itself is a key consideration when deciding which chip to choose. Coated products in the Edgell Perfect Performers range, such as Supa Crunch or Beer Batter chips, have a hold time well beyond that of traditional uncoated chips. “Our Perfect Performers have been designed as ‘cook and hold’ solutions – they come in a range of different cut types and seasonings and will retain their heat crunch up to four times as long as traditional fries. Perfect Performers are a great way to make your menu stand out from the competition as their superior crunch, taste and flavour can create a real buzz and ensure that all-important repeat business.

“Remember that most customers won’t bother to tell you that they’re disappointed with your chips – they simply won’t come back and you’ll lose them to the competitor down the street that is probably selling our Supa Crunch,” David points out. It’s also the case that some people are willing to go out of their way, even drive across several suburbs, to get their favourite chips – so don’t underestimate the importance of the humble chip in attracting and retaining customers!

“Our research shows 82 per cent of customers are unsatisfied with the chips they get from delivery and takeaway pick up, and that’s they’ve gone soggy and lost their crunch. If your business does a lot of takeaway and delivery, you want a chip with maximum hold time like our new Edgell Delivery Chip – which holds for up to 40 minutes delivery period or 60 minutes under a heat lamp.”

Remember, chips are not just a frozen commodity – they can make you a lot of money if you make the right choice for your business and customers! Edgell has a chip to suit all foodservice operations and is dedicated to helping your business grow by making it easy for you to choose the right one: