Zapp's is owned by Utz Brands (the United States, NYSE: UTZ), which acquired the brand in 2011.[1][2] Zapp's was founded in 1985 in Gramercy, Louisiana and was independent until 2011.
Zapp's makes kettle-cooked crisps in Louisiana flavours including Voodoo and Spicy Cajun Crawtator, founded in 1985 by a former oil driller. Utz acquired the brand in 2011 and it has become one of its fastest-growing lines. Its Voodoo flavour is deliberately unspecified, and the company has never said what it is meant to taste of.
Intersnack Group of Düsseldorf agreed to take Utz Brands private for $14.25 a share in cash, an enterprise value of about $2.9 billion. After closing, Utz would be owned 50 per cent by entities of the Rice and Lissette families, descendants of its founders, and 50 per cent by Intersnack, whose own brands include Chio, Hula Hoops, McCoy's, Tyrrells and Tayto. The family would stay as half-owner rather than sell out.
Utz acquired Zapp's, a Louisiana kettle crisp maker founded in 1985 by a former oil driller, known for Cajun flavours including Voodoo and Spicy Cajun Crawtator. The price was not disclosed and only the year is documented here.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Zapp's?
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The parent company of Zapp's is Utz Brands, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States.
Is Zapp's American?
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Yes. Zapp's originated in the United States in 1985 and its owner, Utz Brands, is also headquartered in the United States.
When did Utz Brands buy Zapp's?
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Utz Brands completed its acquisition of Zapp's in 2011, after announcing the deal in 2011. The price was not disclosed.
Who owned Zapp's before Utz Brands?
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Zapp's was an independent company from its founding in 1985 in Gramercy, Louisiana until Utz Brands acquired it in 2011.
Is Zapp's still owned by Utz Brands?
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Yes. As of 16 September 2026, Zapp's is still owned by Utz Brands. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (3) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.