Taste of Maine Launches New Kettle Chip Plant in Limestone with Locally Grown Potatoes and Ambitious Growth Plans

After more than two years of planning and construction, the Taste of Maine Potato Chip plant in Limestone has officially commenced production, bringing kettle chips made from locally sourced Maine potatoes to retail shelves across the state. Owner Bruce Sargent, a longtime advocate for potato processing in northern Maine, has realized his vision with a state-of-the-art facility that sources potatoes from farms within 10 miles of the plant. The chips, available in five flavors—salt and vinegar, salt and pepper, classic sea salt, sour cream and onion, and ‘Aroostook BBQ’—are carefully crafted with a balanced flavor profile designed to appeal to a wide range of consumers. In its first week, the brand shipped seven tractor-trailer loads of chips to convenience stores, grocery chains including Walmart, Hannaford, Market Basket, and Shaw’s, as well as bars throughout Maine. The company is already working with distributors in Bangor, Lewiston, and Portland, with plans to expand into other parts of New England within the coming month.

The Taste of Maine facility, located on the former Loring Air Force Base, represents a significant investment of approximately USD 75 million—a figure that reflects rising material and construction costs, including the impact of tariffs on Canadian steel. Currently operating with four kettles on 12-hour shifts three to four days a week, the plant has created around 20 jobs, with the goal of running 24/7 to expand employment to 60 or more positions. At full capacity, the 80,000-square-foot facility could produce up to 14 million pounds of chips annually, with the potential to double output by expanding to eight kettles. Beyond its own brand, Taste of Maine anticipates that contract packaging (co-packing) will account for about 12 million pounds of production, with a three-million-pound deal already secured to begin in September. Sargent hopes the plant will revitalize the local economy, providing farmers with stable contracts and demonstrating the viability of potato processing in northern Maine, while offering consumers a locally grown, fresh alternative to national chip brands.