Crispmaker Tyrrells sets new record

Officials at crisp makers Tyrrells are claiming a new record – after taking just 45 minutes to get the product from field to shop.

Staff at the company's factory, near Leominster, completed the whirlwind process as part of the harvest of Lady Rosetta potatoes grown by farmers in the area. The potatoes were dug up, taken by tractor to the factory, fried and then delivered to two shops in double quick time.

It took workers at the factory 43 minutes and 46 seconds to make the crisps and get them to Leominster Co-op and then to Ludlow Food Centre at Bromfield, near Ludlow.

Giving a chronology of the process, Oliver Rudguard, marketing director for Tyrrells Crisps, said it had been an eventful experience.

He said that within four minutes and 30 seconds one harvester and two tractors were harvesting the field next to Tyrrells' Court Farm and the potatoes were on the courtyard.

Within 20 minutes and 10 seconds, the first 'lightly sea salted' crisps had been cooked in the factory and checked by quality inspectors who made sure they were to the highest of standards.

At 26 minutes and 48 seconds, the crisps had been seasoned and packed into bags before being loaded into a van and taken to the Leominster Co-op a few miles away. And at 43 minutes and 46 seconds the two cases – 24 packs – of crisps were delivered to the Co-op store. At 45 minutes and 10 seconds the crisps were placed on the shelf in store and within 48 minutes the first bag made it to the checkout to be purchased.

Richard Worrall, operations director for Tyrrells Crisps, said: We are all very proud to have made the fastest crisps in the world.

"We are the only crisp maker that could make crisps so quickly, as we have potatoes growing just 50m from where we hand cook them."

The crisps are sold in major supermarket chains around the country.

Bruce Dowell, store manager at the Co-op store in Leominster, said: "Tyrrells is a great local supplier and it's fantastic for our shoppers to be able to buy these crisps from potatoes that have been harvested just down the road which is in line with our Great For British Produce campaign."