Tayto

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This article refers to Tayto in the Republic of Ireland. For the entirely separate Northern Ireland-based firm, see Tayto (Northern Ireland).

Tayto is a major Irish crisps and popcorn manufacturer, credited with having developed cheese and onion crisps in 1954, having developed the technology to flavour crisps in the process. Tayto's crisps are mainly sold in the Republic of Ireland. The company is owned by Largo Foods. Previously owned by Cantrell & Cochrane, they were based in Coolock, County Dublin, until their factory was closed in September 2005, when production was outsourced to Largo. Largo bought the brand in July 2006.

Tayto also produce other similar products which are not made directly from, or even contain potato; their Chickatees and Wheelies products marketed at children are made from corn starch, and their Chipsticks are made from reprocessed potato starch.

In the early 2000s, the company partially retargeted its product line towards the healthier eating market, with its low salt, low fat crisps, originally called LFC's, but in 2004 renamed to Honest.

Tayto has entered the Irish vocabulary (see Hiberno-English) as a synonym to crisp (noun) and not a tradename, particularly in rural areas.

Tayto crisps, along with Club Orange, Lyons Tea or Barry's Tea, and Galtee or Denny meat products are among the most commonly exported food products to Irish ex-patriates.

A Northern Irish company of the same name, and in the same business, was formed in 1956 with a technology and brandname licence from the Irish Tayto. They trade as Tayto (NI) Ltd. Their products are available in the United Kingdom and in other countries.