Rated as number 1 attraction on TripAdvisor's* website, the Utz Factory Tour is a spotlight on the factory's history and chip production. Utz has 3 Hanover locations and the tour is located in their High Street location on the side toward shipping/receiving open Monday-Thursday, 8-4. The tour took me about 35 minutes to enjoy.
The tour introduces you to the chip's founders and history in Hanover like the fact that Bill and Salie Utz starting making these chips in their home in 1921 on McAllister St and the first Utz factory was built there (unknown if building still stands today). As you continue on the tour, it takes you down a hallway overlooking their chip production and push buttons on the wall that starts audio explanations of what you are seeing. You view actual workers making the chips and some of them acknowledged me in a friendly manner by waving and smiling to me as I watched them work. It made my presence feel welcomed.
The best thing that I learned that increase my appreciation for Utz chips was knowing that they recycle their waste by giving local farms the potato peels for feed and cleaning their water supply. The thing that annoyed me the most? As a local Hanoverian, I grew up pronouncing Utz as uhh-tz with a strong 'U' and the audio clearly calls it ahh-tz - the 'outsiders' pronunciation.
Needless to say, there isn't much to be disappointed in. On your way out, don't forget to stop by a touchscreen monitor to the right of the counter to leave comments regarding the tour and pick up your complimentary bag of chips - quite tasty and fresh.
Don't forget to travel the two blocks to their outlet store too located at their Carlisle St. location. For resident Hanover citizens, if you haven't been there, it's worth the trip in itself as it holds a variety of Utz products. For more information, check out their website.
*Don't be fooled by TripAdvisor's mere 7 attraction in Hanover; there's obviously way more to do and see as this blogger can attest to.
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