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Ivy is the researcher and writer behind The African Gourmet, blending African food, history, and cultural storytelling. Her archive work is cited by universities, Wikipedia, major news outlets, and global food writers.

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Best selling potato chip brands in Africa

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Five popular potato chip brands in Africa are Simba Chips, Chippies, Niknaks, Lays, and Safri Chips. PepsiCo owns three Simba, Chippies and Lays.

What are potato chips called in Africa? It's important to note that potato chips go by different names in various African countries, depending on the local language or dialect.

PepsiCo owns three of the five best selling potato chips in Africa; Simba, Chippies and Lays.

Potato chips are simply called chips or crisps, while others have different names. 

For example, in South Africa, potato chips are called slap chips. In Nigeria, they are known as potato crisps or potato chips, while in Kenya, they are called "crisps." In Egypt, they are known as lays after the popular brand of potato chips, while in Morocco, they are called chips or pommes chips, French for potato chips. 

Best-selling potato chip brands in Africa. 

Simba Chips is a South African brand that offers a variety of flavors. Simba Chips is a popular snack brand in South Africa, known for its range of potato chips or crisps, as they are often called in South Africa. 


Simba Chips has been around since the 1950s and is one of the most recognized snack brands in the country. Simba Chips offers a variety of flavors, including cheese and onion, salt and vinegar, tomato sauce, and many others. 


The brand is known for its high quality and delicious taste and is a popular choice for snacking in South Africa. In addition to their potato chips, Simba Chips also produces other snacks such as peanuts, popcorn, and pretzels. The brand is owned by PepsiCo, one of the world's largest food and beverage companies. 


Chippies are a Zimbabwean brand that offers flavors such as Tomato Sauce, BBQ, and Cheese and Onion. Chippies is a popular brand of potato chips in Zimbabwe. It is owned by Simba Savannah Private Limited, a subsidiary of PepsiCo. Chippies potato chips come in a variety of flavors, including salted, cheese, onion, tomato sauce, and BBQ. 


They are made from locally sourced potatoes known for their crispy texture and rich flavor. In addition to potato chips, Chippies also produces other snacks such as maize snacks and peanut butter. The brand is widely available in Zimbabwe and is a favorite snack among many Zimbabweans. Niknaks is a South African brand that offers cheese-flavored corn snacks similar in texture to potato chips. 

Lays is an international potato chip brand that is available in many African countries.

Lays is an international potato chip brand available in many African countries. Lay's potato chips are sold in various countries across the African continent, including South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Nigeria. The flavors available may vary depending on the country, but some popular flavors in Africa include classic salted, cheese and onion, barbecue, and peri-peri. 

The availability of Lay's potato chips in specific regions or countries within Africa may depend on factors such as local demand, distribution channels, and import/export regulations. Lay's is a brand of potato chips and other snack foods owned by Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc. PepsiCo is an American multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation headquartered in Harrison, New York.

Safari Crisps is a brand of potato chips produced by the Kenyan company Trufoods Limited, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Trufoods Limited also exports its products to other countries in East Africa, such as Uganda and Tanzania. Some popular potato chip flavors are onion, cheese, peri-peri, chicken, and tomato.


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Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations."

The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe.

The Deeper Recipe

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
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African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.