Employees notified snack-maker Seyfert’s is shutting down

By Jonathan Shelley | WPTA

A local company with more than 80 years of history has notified employees that it is closing down, ABC21 has learned.

The iconic snack-producer Seyfert's will cease operations because it is no longer profitable. 

"I don't know what we're going to do now," driver Brad Borntreger said. "There are going to be a lot of people out of a job."

Sources said the manufacturer of chips, pretzels, cheese puffs and other snacks had explored options, including the possible sale of the company, but that officials were unable to find a viable alternative to closure.

Company officials confirmed that Seyfert's products will not be manufactured any longer. Employees will receive one week of pay for every year of service and will be offered job placement services.

Seyfert's was founded in Fort Wayne in 1934 by Charles Seyfert, who moved west to Indiana from Pennsylvania to launch the business.

According to the company's website, it was acquired by Borden Inc. in 1982 -- the first of several corporate transfers that eventually put Seyfert's under the control of Troyer Potato Products in 2001.

"I remember my grandparents having Seyfert's and stuff years ago," Borntreger said, "but it's new days, new stuff and people are ready for a change, probably. So that's what it is."

The brand got national exposure when Myrtle Young -- "the Potato Chip Lady" -- appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" in 1987, showing off her prized collection of chips that resembled objects or celebrities. The bit featured a moment of late night history, when Carson crunched on an "ordinary" potato chip, but Young thought he had consumed part of her collection.