In Puerto Varas, with Lake Llanquihue and the volcanoes as witnesses, a brand was born that has combined the best of agricultural science, family tradition, and food innovation: PatPot Chips.
What appears today on the shelves of the country’s major supermarkets is not simply a bag of potato chips, but the result of more than two decades of silent work that transformed the genetic richness of the Chilean potato into a gourmet snack with its own identity.
From NovaSeed to PatPot
The history of PatPot cannot be understood without mentioning NovaSeed, the parent company with more than twenty years of experience in traditional potato breeding. During this time, the family behind PatPot dedicated itself to studying, selecting, and crossing varieties with intense pigmentation and natural resistance, always using a 100% natural and GMO-free process.
This scientific work had a clear objective: to harness the unique value of Chilean potatoes, which historically gave rise to many of the varieties grown today around the world. Thanks to this effort, more sustainable potatoes were developed, requiring less water, fewer fertilizers, and fewer pesticides, delivering higher yields for the industry and superior quality for fresh consumption.
“That’s our greatest strength: we know exactly where each potato comes from, how it was grown, and why it has the characteristics that make it unique. It takes more than eight years of work to determine whether a variety works or not, plus three years of field testing. In a market where attempts can sometimes arise to appropriate what has taken us years to develop, we have the peace of mind that PatPot is built on serious scientific and agricultural work, which belongs to us; which is protected and fully traceable.”
From Suppliers to Protagonists
For years, the family supplied colored potatoes to other brands. However, there came a time when they decided to stop being the silent source and take a step forward: create their own brand. Their conviction was clear: by controlling the entire process—from seed to frying and packaging—they could offer a premium chip, unlike anything else on the market.
PatPot is, in this sense, a project that brings together science, tradition, and innovation in a single product. Each bag reflects years of research, but also family passion and deep roots in Patagonia.
A Unique Value Proposition
What sets PatPot apart is its authentic origin. Unlike other brands, they don’t buy potatoes on the open market: they work only with their own varieties, developed over years of research. This level of traceability allows them to guarantee the quality of each chip and protect a work that is the result of more than eight years of laboratory development and three years of field testing. Therefore, PatPot is not just a unique snack; it’s a product with an identity, backed by science and with a real story behind it.
Furthermore, along the way, they have managed to consolidate strategic alliances that have allowed them to expand their reach both internationally and nationally: with The Little Potato Company in Canada and the United States, where Chilean varieties of baby potatoes are currently sold; with Huertos del Ranco in Chile, with whom they are developing lines that are widely accepted in the local market; and with the Sociedad Experimental Papas Austral, farmers seeking greater sustainability who have found an ally in NovaSeed to achieve this.
The Retail Challenge
One of PatPot’s major milestones was its entry into Chile’s leading supermarket chains: Jumbo, Santa Isabel, and Unimarc. But far from being an easy path, it entailed a profound professionalization process.
Retail demands much more than a good product: certifications, labeling, precise logistics, meeting deadlines, and a standard of excellence that allows for no mistakes. For PatPot, entering the market was just the first step. The truly complex aspect has been staying in business, which involves constant efforts in restocking, contact with store managers, support with visibility materials, and a logistical system that must work perfectly.
“Being on the shelves is a validation, but above all, it’s a responsibility,” the company says. Each bag on display represents not only a snack, but also the work of a team committed to quality.
The family soul of the project
While science and innovation are pillars of PatPot, what gives the brand its identity is its family nature. Behind every decision, achievement, and obstacle is the unity of a family that has made this project their way of life.
Their children, although they followed different professional paths, pursued different career paths.
