HYANNIS, Mass., June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- As Americans gear up for the lazy, hazy days of summer, Cape Cod Potato Chips announces three new gourmet potato chip flavors designed to spice up any picnic or barbeque. Cape Cod's new flavor-packed line-up for summer includes an irresistible barbeque chip, Sweet Mesquite Barbeque, along with two mouthwatering flavor combinations -- Buttermilk Ranch and Honey Dijon.

Snacking has grown to a $76 billion industry in the United States, with the country's most popular snack, potato chips, experiencing its highest sales between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Cape Cod Potato Chips attributes much of this growth to outdoor entertaining, picnics and old fashioned barbeques. Industry reports suggest that one in two households have barbeques, with each family hosting between three and five per summer.

"Our quest was to find a rich gourmet flavor that offers the perfect pairing of America's love for outdoor entertaining and people's favorite snack -- chips," said Heidi Daly Ford, Director of Marketing for Cape Cod Potato Chips. "Our team set out to create a flavor-packed chip unlike any other on the market. We began by experimenting with various blends of popular flavor combinations. After several months of revisions and taste-tests, consumers overwhelmingly showed that their favorite flavor blends were mesquite barbeque, honey Dijon and buttermilk ranch. With winning recipes, we knew we had landed on an everyday treat designed to entice the taste buds."

The Mystique of Sweet Mesquite

Inspired by the smoky aroma of its namesake, the new Sweet Mesquite Barbeque potato chip delivers a savory snack with a salty sizzle and Cape Cod's distinctive crunch. Starting with all natural ingredients, Cape Cod blended them into a full-bodied barbeque flavor. Tomatoes, onions and a mix of all natural spices are combined with mesquite wood smoke to create the perfect robust barbeque flavor.

"Mesquite has become a popular method of barbecuing throughout the country because of its unique taste that tantalizes the taste buds," said Daly Ford. "To create our new Sweet Mesquite Barbeque, we sought a recipe that combines our famous kettle cooked chips with a hint of mesquite for a sensational barbeque flavor. What we created is a potato chip with an all natural blend of spices that yields to a subtle smoky accent, crunch after crunch."

The Lure of Buttermilk Ranch

Due to its creamy and savory taste, it's little wonder why buttermilk ranch has become the most popular salad dressing on the market today. In fact, the original 1950's recipe for ranch dressing was recently inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron. Buttermilk ranch flavor has become so popular, it's now found in dips, potato recipes, gravies and more.

Cape Cod's vision is to take this popular flavor and combine it with the company's legendary homemade kettle-cooked chips. "Buttermilk Ranch tastes exactly like you had taken our classic Cape Cod Potato Chip and dipped it into creamy, homemade buttermilk ranch dressing," said Daly Ford. "The rich, sweet flavor combined with Cape Cod's famous crunch is truly an authentic and rewarding experience."

The Buzz about Honey Dijon

Sometimes opposites do attract -- and fall head over heels in love! One of the most popular flavor duos is the seemingly unlikely pairing of sweet and strong; mellow and tangy. This magical combination is the inspiration for Cape Cod Potato Chip's newest flavor, Honey Dijon.

Mustard is one of the oldest condiments known to man and is among the world's most popular seasonings for its strong, tangy and robust flavor. Honey, on the other hand, is as old as written history. It is an organic, all natural sugar alternative with no additives that is sweet on the palate and easy to digest. Because if its sweet, all natural flavor, honey is used in all forms of cooking, from breakfast cereals to beverages to even cough drops.

To combine these two contrary flavors into one sensational potato chip, Cape Cod again started with its home-made kettle-cooked chips. A special blend of sweet honey and spicy Dijon -- which remains a secret -- were carefully added to the chips at the Hyannis factory until the newest flavor sensation was born.

"We tested several different recipes before landing on this winning combination," Daly Ford said. "It is not overpowering, yet our research shows it's nearly impossible to put down! Consumers just love the fullness of taste and rich robust flavor."

Hits Shore -- Or Store Rather ...

Like all Cape Cod potato chips, the new Sweet Mesquite Barbeque, Buttermilk Ranch and Honey Dijon flavors are made with pure canola oil, with zero trans fat. They are all natural, made with no preservatives. And, like the company's classic chips created nearly 28 years ago also in Hyannis, Cape Cod's Sweet Mesquite Barbeque, Buttermilk Ranch and Honey Dijon potato chips, are made the old fashioned way, one small batch at a time.

The new flavors are hitting store shelves in major markets across the US, just in time for the summer. They are available in 8 ounce retail bags. Cape Cod plans a big in-store push with consumers, offering an instant rebate coupon for $1 off the purchase of two bags. All products will also be sold on the company's website.

Since 1980, Cape Cod Potato Chips has brought all natural goodness and fresh flavors with its hand-stirred kettle-cooked chips. The legendary crunch of Cape Cod's chips has made them a classic on the Cape and around the world. More information on Cape Cod's line is available at www.capecodchips.com.