Teton Valley Brands isn’t trying to beat Lay’s at its own game.Instead, the Nampa-based snack company is carving out a niche by betting on unconventional products, Idaho partnerships, and an emphasis on innovation. Its products include Idaho Brand potato chips and chips made with Wagyu beef tall ow. “If we were just making a plain old Lay’s potato chip, we would be subject to playing the same game that they do, which is expensive,” President and CEO Matt Price said. “Always constantly innovating, staying ahead of the trends or right on it, and being differentiated in our product offerings, that’s how we get by.”Teton Valley Brands was founded in 2017 by Kyle Nehring. The company’s first manufacturing operation was in a 2,200-square-foot building in Nampa. Since then, Teton Valley has expanded its manufacturing capabilities while growing 285% between 2022 and 2025. Its expansion into tallow-based chips has also opened a new avenue for growth, with Price saying only a handful of manufacturers nationwide produce them.Building the company’s own manufacturing facility has proven key to Teton Valley’s ability to innovate, while co-manufacturing with partners like Snake River Farms and Cranney Farms provides another avenue for growth. The company’s emphasis on innovation extends to its employees. Price avoids a top-down management style and encourages employees at every level to contribute ideas.“We have a lot of innovators. We thrive on it. There’s no bad idea,” he said. “We’ve maintained most of our core employees the whole time, which I think says a lot.”Teton Valley Brands recently launched a waffle-cut Idaho potato chip, which Price said has quickly become one of its best-selling products. The company is also opening a new executive office in Caldwell as it continues to expand.Price hopes Teton Valley Brands will become a blueprint for other Idaho food manufacturers and startups looking to grow.“We want to show the state that these companies can be successful,” he said. ...read more read less