Jays factory to close

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-tue_jaysdec04,1,2032820.story

While the famous Jays brand should survive, the south side factory that has churned out potato chips for decades will close permanently Wednesday, a casualty of Jays Foods' latest bankruptcy.

Snyder's of Hanover, the Pennsylvania snack food maker aiming to buy Jays doesn't intend to operate the plant on 99th Street, thus jettisoning 220 production jobs. A warehouse and distribution facility at the site, which employs 420 others, will continue to operate for "an unspecified period of time," Jays said in a press release.

Jays is a classic Chicago food brand the sort of product Mayor Richard Daley stakes in friendly wagers to rival city mayors when Chicago sports teams compete in championship games. And Jays commands a solid 21 percent share in the Chicago metro area, according to Information Resources, Inc., a market researcher.

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This makes me sad and angry at the same time. What a time of year to take away someone's job! Merry Christmas to all you employees.

Jays used to be called Japps, after the family who owned them. They had to change their name during WWII, so they shortened it to Jays. They make O-Ke-Dokes and Krunchers, too. I don't know if they will still make those, but the Jays Chips will survive. I am sad for Chicago. This is the end of an era.

of Chicago, I didn't realize until about 1965 that Frito-Lay even existed.

Another Chicago tradition bites the dust....