Utz expands California and Midwest footprint with new distribution deal

Utz announced an expanded presence in the most populated American state as the Pennsylvania-based snack food company seeks to expand its snack offerings to the western portions of the country.

In a press release issued on Oct. 30, 2025 alongside the company’s third-quarter earnings report for 2025, Utz Brands announced the company had acquired Insignia International’s direct store delivery distribution assets.

Insignia International, formerly the Flagship Food Group, consists of a group of nationally distributed brands primarily focused on southwestern and Hispanic food offerings.

The acquisition, according to the release, includes distribution assets and routes across California and the Midwest.

“We are also announcing plans to expand our presence in California,” Howard Friedman, CEO of Utz Brands, said in the release.

“With California representing the nation’s largest salty snack market at $4.1 billion, we see substantial white space for our brands.”

According to the release, Utz already sees around $79 million in retail sales across California, representing around 1.9% of the local market share.

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The acquisition comes as Utz continues to expand its distribution network across the United States, including a 2024 acquisition of distribution assets in Florida.

The company, founded in 1921 by William and Salie Utz in their home along McAllister Street in Hanover, originally began its now-expansive distribution network with the pair driving their chips to local stores around the Hanover and Baltimore region, according to a history of the company.

In its quarterly earnings report, the company shared that it saw the ninth consecutive quarter of volume share growth, with “productivity initiatives across the organization” contributing to their margins.

During the third quarter of 2025, net sales for Utz increased 3.4% to $377.8 million, in comparison to $365.5 million in the prior year period, according to the report.

In September of 2025, Utz announced the company is planning major investments and changes across its Hanover manufacturing facilities, including a brand new community center, the sale of two buildings, and an upgraded headquarters.

Harrison Jones is the Hanover reporter for the Evening Sun. Reach him at hjones@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Hanover Evening Sun: Utz grows snack reach with new regional distribution deal