Herr’s fourth annual chip competition, featuring the unique theme “Flavored by Philly,” has embraced a new format, introducing a thrilling “Crunch Off” that showcases past winners.
For this year’s contest, the competition has raised the stakes by offering a permanent spot for the winning flavor.
The contestants in this year’s battle are familiar favorites, each having triumphed over two other flavors in their respective years.
The flavors competing for the crown include:
– “Long Hots and Sharp Provolone”
– The “Tomato Pie” flavor, inspired by the popular Corropolese Bakery in Montgomery County
– The “Special Hot Stromboli” chip, based on the original sandwich from Romano’s in Essington
Jim Herr, senior VP of marketing at Chester-based Herr’s, explained that the decision to shift to a battle of champions was influenced by fan feedback.
“With the great response we’ve had over the past three years and how many people have asked us to bring back previous winners, we thought it made a ton of sense to have a battle of the champions, have the crunch off, and have one of these items have a chance to be an everyday product,” said Herr.
As in prior years, a team from Billy Penn, along with colleagues from WHYY, participated in a taste-testing event.
This year, 45 volunteer tasters gathered to sample all three flavors, offering initial impressions, deeper feedback, and ratings based on various criteria, such as general enjoyment, fidelity to the dish being imitated, and originality.
Additionally, an Instagram poll was conducted to gauge public preference in a bid to uncover the community’s favorite flavor.
Historically, Billy Penn’s taste test has correctly predicted the overall winner of the competition annually.
**Long Hots and Sharp Provolone: A Flavor Punch**
The first champion, “Long Hots and Sharp Provolone,” made a strong return, captivating the taste testers with its bold flavor.
A majority of tasters from WHYY echoed enjoyment, with one noting, “It’s big on sharp provolone, and the heat comes after. It’s super in your face.”
In the office voting, 27 out of 45 tasters favored this flavor, while it garnered a significant 47% of the votes on Instagram.
However, some found the spiciness a bit overwhelming.
One taster commented, “Fun flavor, but too spicy to eat a bag of them,” while another was deterred by the chip’s spicy aroma upon first approaching it.
**Tomato Pie: Sweet and Tangy Goodness**
Year two’s winner, “Tomato Pie,” found success due to its sweet and tangy character.
This flavor came in as the second choice among tasters, with 11 votes in the office and 38% of the Instagram poll.
A taster described it as “a unique sweet tomatoey chip flavor,” while another remarked on its almost addictive nature, stating it was a flavor one could easily munch on absentmindedly.
Nevertheless, some noted its sweetness could perhaps be a bit excessive at first bite.
**Special Hot Stromboli: A Milder Choice**
The third contender, “Special Hot Stromboli,” inspired discussions around whether the chip adequately captured the essence of the famous sandwich from Romano’s.
Several tasters compared it directly to “Long Hots and Sharp Provolone,” with feelings varying from lack of spice to preference for its milder, meatier flavor profile.
Many described the chips as reminiscent of a hoagie or even “hoagie oil,” but there were concerns about the chip’s subdued flavor not standing out in the competition.
It received seven votes in the office and only managed to capture 15% of the Instagram votes, putting it in third place.
One voter concluded, “It does taste like stromboli, but I don’t actually want a meat chip.”
**The Verdict: Clear Favorites Emerged**
Ultimately, “Long Hots and Sharp Provolone” stood out as the definitive winner in both the office and Instagram polls, following its triumph last year.
While it maintained a solid lead in both tests, the Instagram polling showed a tighter competition overall.
The previous year’s chip contest attracted 26,000 votes, with over 17,600 from the year prior and a little over 11,000 in the first edition of the contest.
This year, Herr’s involved Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber and his organization, Neighbourhood Heroes, to bolster participation and encourage voting enthusiasm.
Herr expressed optimism about the event, noting the increasing engagement over the years. “We’ve seen continued momentum each year that we do this, and we get a little broader and we get a little bit more reach and interest.
We’re really excited to see what interest we get this year as we’ve stepped up the partnership and the investment around it.”
As the taste test concludes, one thing is evident: flavor preferences vary significantly among individuals, making personal taste the best guide in selecting a favorite chip.
image source from：billypenn
