Tayto (Northern Ireland)

Tayto (Northern Ireland) refers to a brand of potato crisps (potato chips) popular in Northern Ireland and, to a lesser extent, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. The company producing the crisps, Tayto Group Ltd, was originally founded in Tandragee, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, in 1956 by Joe 'Spud' Murphy. Tayto crisps are particularly known for their distinctive cheese and onion flavour, often considered a quintessential Northern Irish snack.

The original Tayto company was later acquired and then split. As a result, the "Tayto" brand name is used by two separate entities in Ireland: Tayto (Northern Ireland), often referred to as "Northern Tayto", and Tayto (Republic of Ireland), produced by Largo Foods. This can lead to confusion, as the crisps, while similarly named, have different packaging and are produced by different companies with distinct recipes and brand identities.

The Northern Irish Tayto crisps are still manufactured in Tandragee, maintaining a local connection and a distinct flavour profile compared to their Republic of Ireland counterparts. They remain a symbol of Northern Irish culture and are frequently associated with childhood memories and regional identity. The branding often incorporates Northern Irish imagery and references, reinforcing its regional association.