>> I LOVE IT WHEN THE STORIES WE DO ARE CATERED. >> POP IT OPEN, WHY NOT?
>> IS THERE ANYTHING BETTER THAN
A POTATO CHIP BAG OPENING?
>> WE HAVE VERNORS, FAYGO,
SANDERS SATISFYING YOUR SWEET
TOOTH.
AND BETTER MADE.
>> STEVE WANTED TO SEE HOW ALL
OF THAT DELICIOUSNESS GETS MADE.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND HAVE ONE.
THANK YOU.
>> NOW THAT WE’VE TURNED THE
CORNER ON LABOR DAY A LOT OF
OUTDOOR PARTY ALSO TURN TO
FOOTBALL TAILGATES WHERE
SOMEBODY WILL ASK, WHERE ARE THE
CHIPS?
AN AROUND HERE THERE IS A CHANCE
IT WILL BE A HOMEGROWN PRODUCT
OF DETROIT.
>> BETTERMADE HAS BEEN MAKING
CHIPS FOR 88 YEARS.
>> AT ONE TIME THERE WERE 22
COMPANIES IN THE CITY OF
DETROIT.
EVERYONE WAS ON THE BAND WAY
GONE AND WE ARE THE ONLY
SURVIVING ONE.
>> WHERE DO ALL OF THE POTATO
CHIPS COME FROM?
>> ON A DAILY BASIS WE HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO RUN 350 POUNDS OF
POTATOES A DAY.
>> A DAY?
>> THEY GET WASHED MULTIPLE
TIMES AND INSPECTED.
>> UNLIKE AT HOME AROUND HERE
THE BATH WATER GETS USED GOING
THROUGH A STARCH RECOVERY
SYSTEM.
>> THERE IS A COMPANY THAT TAKES
OUR STARCH AND TURNS IT INTO
AWARD WINNING VODKA.
>> SAME GOES TO THE PA TATE TOE
PEELS.
>> LOCAL FARMERS COME AND PICK
IT UP FOR CATTLE FEED.
>> THE FIRST INSPECTION STATION
TOSSES ANY POTATOES THAT DON’T
MAKE THE GRADE.
MORE CATTLE FEED.
AND CUT LARGER ONES INTO SMALLER
ONES SO AT THE END OF THE LINE
CHIPS COME OUT A FAIRLY
UNIFORMED SIZE.
>> THEN IT’S OFF TO THE SLICER.
>> IT BLOWS OFF EXCESS MOISTURE.
>> THIS MAKES POTATO STICKS.
>> THIS IS WHERE QUALITY CONTROL
COMES IN.
>> OH MAN, BECAUSE THEY ARE HOT
AND FRESH OFF THE LINE.
>> IT’S LIFE CHANGING, I’M
TELLING YOU.
>> THIS LINE IS PUMPING OUT
POTATO CHIPS AND LOOKS LIKE TIME
FOR MORE QUALITY CONTROL.
>> NEXT, IT IS A QUICK RIDE
UPSTAIRS WHERE THE CHIPS GET
SEASONED AND SORTED.
>> WE HAVE TWO MACHINES HERE
RUNNING BARBECUE, FOLLOWED BY
STICKS AND NO SALT CHIPS DOWN
THERE.
>> COMPUTERS MEASURE AND FILL
EACH PAN SO EVERY BAG GETS
PRECISELY THE CORRECT AMOUNT.
>> THIS MACHINE AT A VERY HIGH
RATE OF SPEED WILL COME UP WITH
DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF SCALES
TO MAKE A PERFECT WEIGHT.
IF YOU WEIGH THOSE BAGS THEY
WILL WEIGH A CERTAIN AMOUNT.
>> BACK DOWNSTAIRS THIS PLASTIC
FILM IS FORMED INTO TUBES THAT
BECOME BAGS FOR THE CHIPS.
FILL THEM UP AND SHIP THEM OUT.
FAMILY MADE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A
FAMILY BUSINESS.
>> WHAT DO YOU DO TO GET YOUR
OWN STREET NAME OUTSIDE THIS
BUILDING?
>> YOU HAVE TO TALK TO MY
GRANDFATHER ABOUT THAT.
>> THEY ARE NOT THE BIGGEST
POTATO CHIP MAKER, BUT THEY
WOULD LIKE TO THINK THEY ARE THE
BEST.
>> WE ARE NOT OUT TO CONQUER THE
WORLD.
WE ARE HERE TO MAKE A GOOD
LIVING AND A GOOD PRODUCT.
>> EACH TIME YOU GRAB FOR THE
CHIPS, THINK OF HUTCH -- OF HOW
MUCH GOES INTO IT.
>> THINK OF HOW MANY COMPANIES?
>> BETTERMADE, THE LAST MAN
STANDING.
>> THEY WERE MADE BETTER.