Tayto is set to resume the famous crisp tours of Co Armagh factory for the first time in four years.
After shutting down during the pandemic, the iconic Northern Irish crisp brand is set to relaunch next month, just in time for the summer.
Visitors will soon have the chance to tour the castle and the factory, where more than 250 people work with the capacity to make a million packets of crisps every day.
Over 500 years old, the castle was originally the home of the O’Hanlon clan, one of the mightiest and most powerful clans in Ireland. In 1955, a visionary local businessman, Thomas Hutchinson, bought it and decided to make a new potato product called crisps.
Speaking on reopening the castle tours, Elly Hunter, Marketing Director, Tayto, said: “We had to close early in 2020 due to lockdown, and we are incredibly excited to be in the position to reopen our doors.”
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According to her, the tours have created at least five new jobs and will offer visitors “a real treat”. In her words, “Following a NI wide search for tour guides, we’re delighted to report that we have found some incredibly enthusiastic people to join the Tayto team and ensure visitors have the best time possible when they’re with us.”
The Tayto tours attract visitors from all over and are popular with school groups, colleges, universities, clubs, societies, and family groups. The tours accommodate all ages, from 5 upwards.
Elly said, “We’ve welcomed people from all over the globe, with a large number from GB, Canada, the USA and as far away as Australia and South Africa. People will go a long way for Tayto crisps. It’s lovely to see families on the tour, and more often than not, mum and dad did the same tour when they were children. It’s very touching to see them passing on the tradition.”
On what to expect from the experience, the Marketing Director said visitors will enjoy the process of making the popular crisps and more.
“The Tayto factory is located within the grounds of a 500-year-old castle in Tandragee,” she said. “A truly unique and stunning setting for everyone who comes to see us. On a tour, visitors will see firsthand how our famous crisps and snacks are made and get the chance to meet Mr Tayto. They will see the production process from start to finish, witnessing the transformation of our local potatoes into packaged, delicious Tayto crisps. They will also see how our snacks and popcorn are made.”
Tayto Tours will resume on May 7, 2024, with two tours daily from Monday to Friday.
