Better Made Special, established in 1930, is a snack manufacturing company based in Detroit, Michigan. The company manufactures and distributes potato chips, popcorn, pretzels, pork rinds, potato sticks, beef jerky and tortillas to all parts of the U.S. Apart from that, the company sells sportswear, baby wear and hats. It also conducts annual ‘Dad of the Year’ and ‘Mom of the Year’ contests.

History
The history of Better Made Special traces back to 1930, when Cross Moceri and Peter Cipriano founded the Cross and Peters company on the 1st of August. The business became very successful selling potato chips to movie theatres, bars and Belle Isle Park. Better Made became a brand under which the company started to sell their products.

In 1937, all employees of the company collaborated with the Teamsters Union, forcing the owners to raise the pay of each employee to 40 cents per hour. In 1939, the company relocated and moved to larger premises due to increase in demand for their products. The new manufacturing plant had a large fryer, which was used to fry potato chips 100 pounds at a time. They also created a logo for the company.

Over the next few years, the company was relocated to many other places. Finally, in 1949, it was moved to the manufacturing plant in Detroit, at Gratiot Avenue. In 1965, the company introduced popcorn. It also started making chips with ridges. Moreover, flavored chips were added to the product line.

During the 1970s, Better Made bought the neighboring properties on Gratiot Avenue and the company was expanded. It also expanded its business to Ohio. It purchased potatoes mostly from potato farms in Michigan. The chips were fried in cottonseed oil, and the peelings of the potato were purchased by farmers for compost. Cipriano passed away in 1981, and Moceri in 1984. The company was taken over by their children in 1984. At that time, the company had 120 employees.

The company soon started manufacturing cheese puffs and pretzels. The 1980s saw more expansion of the plant. In 1994, the company merged with Made-Rite Chip Company in Michigan. By 2001, Cross & Peters Co. completed 70 years in business. In 2003, the Cipriano family bought the share of Moceri family, and Salvatore Cipriano became the CEO. The company was renamed Better Made Snack Foods, Inc.

Stats
Company headquarters: 10148 Gratiot Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Ownership: Private
Annual revenue: $50 to 100 million
Number of employees: 100 to 249
Geography: USA
Demography: Natural and Organic

Brands
Rainbow
Kettle-Cooked
Signature

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