Quick facts
| Founded | 1946 by James "Jim" Stauffer Herr |
|---|---|
| Country | USA (Nottingham, Pennsylvania) |
| Made by | Herr Foods Inc. (family-owned, now third generation) |
| Dietary status | Most products contain milk (cheese-based), gluten-free options available |
About Herr's
Herr's is the family-owned American snack brand founded in 1946 by 21-year-old James "Jim" Stauffer Herr, who bought a small potato chip business in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for $1,750. Now headquartered in Nottingham, Pennsylvania, and run by the third generation of the Herr family, the company produces over 340 different snacks across potato chips, cheese curls, pretzels, popcorn and tortilla chips. After Utz went public in 2024, Herr's became the largest privately-owned snack food company in the United States.
The Herr's range we stock
Seven products covering the most popular cheese curl and crisp variants we import.
| Product | Profile |
|---|---|
| Cheese Curls 199g | The classic Herr's crunchy cheese curl. Real cheddar cheese powder coating, the flagship product |
| Honey Cheese Curls 199g | Sweet-and-savoury cheese curl combining cheddar with honey sweetness |
| Hot & Honey Cheese Curls 170g | The sweet-and-spicy variant combining honey notes with chilli heat |
| Carolina Reaper Cheese Curls 170g | Extreme heat variant using Carolina Reaper chilli, the brand's hottest curl |
| Jalapeño Poppers Cheese Curls 42g | Jalapeño-flavoured cheese curl in lunchbox-friendly bag size |
| Crab Fries Potato Chips 28g | Iconic Philadelphia-themed flavour developed with sports bar Chickie's & Pete's |
| Ketchup Potato Chips 28g | American-style sweet-and-tangy ketchup potato crisps |
Ingredients and allergens
Herr's Cheese Curls contain enriched cornmeal, vegetable oils (sunflower, corn or soybean), cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), whey, salt, buttermilk and natural flavours. The Carolina Reaper variant adds Carolina Reaper chilli pepper powder. Most cheese curl variants are gluten-free as a core formulation (corn-based, not wheat-based) and Kosher Dairy certified. The recipes contain milk ingredients (the cheese coating), so are not vegan or dairy-free. Not formally halal certified. Always check the back of each individual pack for the most accurate allergen and dietary information.
Who Herr's is for
American snack import buyers: Herr's Cheese Curls are difficult to find through UK supermarkets and are part of the niche American import space alongside Cheetos and Lay's American flavours. The curl format and real-cheese coating sets Herr's apart from UK equivalents like Wotsits.
Spicy snack fans: the Hot & Honey and Carolina Reaper Cheese Curls deliver progressively hotter chilli levels for shoppers who actively chase heat. The Carolina Reaper variant is one of the spiciest mainstream American snacks available in the UK.
Gluten-free crisp buyers: the cheese curl range is gluten-free as a core formulation. Pair with our Well&Truly gluten-free crisps range for a broader gluten-free snack selection.
Pennsylvania heritage shoppers: Herr's is one of the most-recognised regional American snack brands, with a dedicated factory-tour fan base in Pennsylvania. The brand carries genuine American snack-aisle heritage that mass-market imports often miss.
Buy Herr's online in the UK
Build your basket from across the Herr's range and our wider American snacks selection to qualify for free UK delivery over £20. Herr's pairs especially well with our Cheetos imports and Pringles American flavours for a broader cheese-and-crunch selection. Order before our daily cut-off for same-day dispatch.
Herr's snacks: frequently asked questions
Are Herr's Cheese Curls gluten-free?
Yes, Herr's Cheese Curls are gluten-free as a core recipe formulation. The base is enriched cornmeal rather than wheat, and the cheese coating contains no gluten ingredients. The brand markets the gluten-free credential clearly on pack. The curls do contain milk (from the cheese), so they are not vegan or dairy-free.
How spicy are Herr's Carolina Reaper Cheese Curls?
Herr's Carolina Reaper Cheese Curls are among the spiciest mainstream American snacks available in the UK. The Carolina Reaper chilli rates around 1.5 to 2.2 million Scoville Heat Units, hundreds of times hotter than a jalapeño. The curls are described by the brand as their hottest snack ever made. Not recommended for chilli newcomers.
What's the difference between Herr's Cheese Curls and Cheetos?
Both are American corn-based cheese snacks, but Herr's Cheese Curls use a heavier real-cheddar coating and have a denser, more substantial curl format. Cheetos are lighter and crunchier with a more powdery cheese coating. Herr's is family-owned and produced in Pennsylvania since 1946, while Cheetos is owned by PepsiCo through Frito-Lay since 1965.
Who owns Herr's?
Herr's is owned by Herr Foods Inc., the privately-held, family-owned American company founded in 1946 by James "Jim" Stauffer Herr. The company is now run by the third generation of the Herr family in Nottingham, Pennsylvania. After Utz went public in 2024, Herr's became the largest privately-owned snack food company in the United States.