Granny Goose Takes Flight Again

Oakland-based Granny Goose Foods Inc. is no more. But Northern Californians can still find snack foods under the familiar Granny Goose label now that it has been purchased by local snack food manufacturer Snak King Corp.

The Industry maker of pork rinds, cheese puffs and other munchies purchased the familiar goose trademark this spring after Granny Goose closed its doors. Now the goose is loose once again in Northern California stores where it has been a regional favorite for more than 50 years.

Snak King, with $50 million in sales and distribution throughout the Western United States, saw an opportunity to strengthen its market share in Northern California with the label purchase, according to Joseph Papiri, vice president of sales and marketing for Snak King.

“The brand is so strong and recognized up there,” Papiri said. “It’s a good fit with where we’re trying to go.”

Some Southlanders may recall spotting Granny Goose trucks motoring around Southern California in recent years, part of an ill-timed expansion that contributed to the company’s demise.

Papiri said Snak King won’t replicate that mistake and will return the goose to her rightful perch in Northern California.

There will be one more return to tradition as well. The Granny Goose mascot--whose former owners made her over into a funky fowl replete with sunglasses and attitude--will revert to the dowdy bird with the bonnet, straw basket and sensible shoes that consumers knew and loved.

“The old goose is corny but very well-recognized. . . . Sales plunged when [the former owners] changed that design,” Papiri said. “Sometimes corny can be good.”

*

Denise Gellene can be reached at denise.gellene@latimes.com, and Marla Dickerson at marla.dickerson @latimes.com.