Do we like them?

Do we like Smith's Chips?

Australian potato chip and snack brand (Smith's Snackfood Company), made by PepsiCo; big plant at Regency Park, South Australia.

Our score: 5 out of 10. A well-loved snack brand that buys local potatoes and makes local jobs, but its owner PepsiCo faces plastic pollution lawsuits. We'd give it a mixed score.

Smith's is one of Australia's oldest chip brands. It turned 90 in 2021. The Australian business was bought by PepsiCo's Frito-Lay arm in 1998. Sources differ on some details of the deal. The UK Smiths is a separate business.

On the local side, coverage describes Smith's as the biggest buyer of crisping potatoes in Australia, with more than 30 growers across four states. The Senior reported a new baked chip line at Regency Park that created 28+ full-time jobs.

The bigger worry is the parent. New York's Attorney General sued PepsiCo in 2023 over plastic pollution, and a report says the case was dismissed in 2024. PepsiCo's SEC filing says it is defending a Los Angeles plastic pollution suit filed in October 2024.

We didn't find Smith's-specific scandals, fines or worker disputes. Our score is middling because the brand looks harmless, but the owner's packaging record is a worry and we found little proof of strong good deeds.