O'Grady's Au Gratin chips - remake?

Question

I just purchased a bag of Ruffles Thick Cut Cheddar Baked Potato chips and immediately was struck by how much they remind me of O'Grady's Au Gratin chips. Although it has been many years since they disappeared, this Ruffles flavor brought back what is seared into my taste-memory for O'Grady's Au Gratin potato chips. 

I wanted to get opinions from other 'hounders who remember O'Grady's and have tried this variety of Ruffles. If anything, I remember that O'Grady's may have been even thicker than the Ruffles but that doesn't detract from the taste.

I remember being really mystified as to why this product just disappeared from the shelves when my friends and I could not get our parents to buy them fast enough. Maybe, they are back.

Answer

Its funny you mention O'Gragy's Au Gratin Chips. They were the best. I was very disappointed when they stopped selling. these new Ruffles remind me of them. I cant finf the new ruffles on the shelf. were they just a promotion.

Answer

They appear to have been a limited run! I have been looking for them for the last two months to no avail (at least here in Toronto).

Answer

Hi ... I used to work at Frito. Maybe this background info might help: 
1) The new thick-cut Ruffles come close to the original O'Grady's -- BUT the new Ruffles are slightly thinner and MUCH easier/faster to make. 
2) O'Grady's had slightly more "crunch" to them. 
3) O'Grady's extra crispness was made possible because the slightly thicker-potato slices were first soaked in a cold brine solution before they entered the Ruffles fryer (this brine processing was a MAJOR discovery for Frito).
4) BUT this extra "brine processing" step also meant that O'Grady's manufacturing cost would always be slightly more expensive for Frito (versus producing a Ruffles or a Lay's chip). 
5) This "brine" step increased Frito's mfg'g costs in 3 ways: a) slightly slower chip output: the soaking added an extra 30-50 seconds to the chip process, b) factory floor space: the O'Grady's "brine" tank/machine was large & required the removal of at least one Ruffles fryer from every plant, and c) extra machine costs: the tank / extra motors / extra conveyors / sprayers for the "brine" process added yet another cost. 
6) Most of the people who bought O'Grady's (including me) had previously been loyal Ruffles purchasers (Frito exec's said: "our higher-profit Ruffles are being 'cannibalized' by the slightly-less profitable O'Grady's). O'Grady's didn't attrack many store brand or competitive users.
In SUMMARY: O'Grady's was very-very popular and it took several years for Frito-Lay / PepsiCo to figure out the problem caused by lower profit-margins & cannibalization. The decision to halt O'Grady's was contentious and drew many complaints from consumers & store mgrs.
This new thick-cut Ruffles seems to be a good compromise: a) it tastes similar to O'Grady's (in most consumer's minds) , and b) it avoids the delays/costs of the unique "brine" process. .... Well ... hope this info helps. dave in austin, texas

Answer

I remember the Au Gratin chips. I LOVED THEM!!! They just disappeared and were gone forever. I too bought the Ruffles Baked Potato Chips and they were similar to the O Grady's brand. The closest thing I've had to them....but sadly not close enough!

Answer

What I wouldn't give for a sack o' O'Grady's, or even a modern knock-off! From now on I'm going to patrol the chip aisles in search of thick-cut, ridged chips.

Answer

It looks like this chip has been brought back - to South Africa. The company Simba, which is under the PepsiCo International umbrella has relaunched O'Gradys chips after shelving the product back in 2005. Massive consumer demand got the chips back into production.

More information with pictures here:
http://www.fastmoving.co.za/fmcg-suppliers/food-beverage/simba/simba-brand-activity/o2019gradys-is-back-by-popular-demand/o2019gradys-is-back-by-popular-demand

They offer "baked cheese" (au gratin I assume) and sour cream & onion flavors.

Answer

I can't believe that this just happened. Just yesterday I got the same Ruffles Thick Cut Cheddar Baked chips and immediately turned to my husband and asked if he remembered the Au Gratin Chips. He is younger than me, and did not remember them...but, I certainly do. Tasting those was like a flashback to the best chip ever. I just googled Au gratin chips to find out what happened to them and saw your comment.

Answer

Corp4444's explanation is useful, and in the world of business makes sense. Unfortunate however.

Answer

Why did O'Grady's chips disappear? They were and are still the best. I would like to see them come back. I used to love the cheddar and sour cream and onion. Wow. The chips today need to get to the same ruffle thinkness of Grady's chips. Does anyone have the answer?

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O'Grady's Au Gratin chips - remake?

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