From Galicia (Spain) to the Oscars: The success story of Bonilla a la Vista chips

Bonilla a la Vista, the emblematic Galician brand of potato chips, has achieved something unprecedented: their products will be present at the Oscar awards ceremony this weekend. Their iconic potato chips will be part of the appetizer menu offered during the ceremony next Sunday in Los Angeles, where nominees, awardees, and guests will be able to savor this tasty Spanish snack.

This is a historic milestone for a local company from Arteixo (A Coruña) that, after decades of artisanal work, makes the leap to Hollywood with a product Made in Galicia.

Oprah Winfrey, the push that changed everything

Behind this success in the United States is a meteoric rise propelled by an unexpected ally: Oprah Winfrey. Bonilla a la Vista’s chips became a phenomenon in the North American market last November after the famous host included them in her annual list of favorites, Oprah’s Favorite Things. Winfrey spared no praise for the Galician snack in her review: “Trust me, I know potato chips. And these, coming from Galicia, are worth it. They are fried in olive oil and are light and crispy. Delicious on their own or for dipping in a sauce.”

Thanks to that recommendation, the demand for the product skyrocketed: in only four hours, 4,000 cans of Bonilla a la Vista chips were sold through a special ABC program, with 1,500 units sold out in the first 15 minutes​. Even with a premium price – about $30.25 per promotional can, compared to the $17.05 it costs in Spain – the public quickly exhausted the stock, and at its normal value, a 275 g can can reach up to $60.50 in the U.S. The frenzy forced the brand to communicate on social media that, after exhausting the promotion, they would continue selling in the United States through Amazon and gourmet stores like Despaña Brand Foods in New York.

In response to this surge, the company from A Coruña, “very honored and grateful” for the recognition, had to increase its workforce by 20% and fry in double shifts to meet both national and international orders. This fervor in the U.S. set the stage for Bonilla a la Vista to now rub shoulders with Hollywood stars on the film industry’s most important night.

The star appearance in the South Korean film “Parasite”

Before making the leap to the U.S., Bonilla a la Vista had already tasted the sweetness of international recognition thanks to a cinematic cameo. In 2020, one of their cans appeared in two key scenes of the South Korean film Parasite, which won four Oscars, including Best Picture. That fortuitous appearance caused the company from A Coruña to double its production to meet the avalanche of orders from around the world.

The prestigious The New York Times even included Bonilla’s chips in its list of the 15 best gourmet gifts, praising their texture as “light, extremely crispy and almost flaky in structure”. These milestones cemented the fame of Bonilla a la Vista beyond Galicia, paving the way for its American adventure.

From Galicia to the world: a brand with history

Bonilla a la Vista is a family business with nearly a century of tradition. It was founded in 1932 by Salvador Bonilla, who opened a churrería in Ferrol (Galicia) where, in addition to chocolate with churros, he began frying potatoes that he served in paper cones.

In the late 1940s, the family moved to A Coruña. It was there that César Bonilla –the founder’s son– decisively devoted himself to potato chips, packaging them in 1-kilo cans and delivering the famous Bonilla cans by bicycle to the city’s bars.

In 1988, they inaugurated their factory in the Sabón Industrial Estate (Arteixo), consolidating large-scale production without losing the artisanal process or the quality of the raw materials. Since then, the expansion has been unstoppable. Today, the company remains headquartered in Arteixo and maintains its family spirit (with just over one hundred employees) while its chips conquer distant markets.

The international expansion of Bonilla a la Vista began with the Galician emigrant communit. It became formalized in 2010 with their chips’ arrival in other regions of Spain and soon after, abroad. In 2013, the brand entered the British and American markets. And in 2016 it arrived in South Korea, where their chips created such excitement that stock sold out in hours, compelling the company to limit purchases per customer.

Currently, Bonilla a la Vista exports to 23 countries –including South Korea, Panama, Taiwan, Canada, and Australia. The company produces around 400 tons of potato chips per year.

A global boom that the company has managed while keeping its original recipe: olive oil, selected potato, and a lot of dedication. “There are no secrets, just enthusiasm, and never changing the idea of using the best raw materials,” remarked César Bonilla, the patriarch of the firm, about the formula for their success.

Photo: Bonilla Website