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Hickory Sticks

Hickory Sticks are a Canadian potato snack made of thin, stick-shaped fried potato pieces with a hickory-smoke flavour.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Hickory Sticks are a Canadian potato snack made of thin, stick-shaped fried potato pieces with a hickory-smoke flavour. The brand was long associated with Hostess in Canada and remained a major retail product after the Hostess potato chip brand was revived as Munchies in 2024.

Overview

Hickory Sticks are a Canadian snack food made from thin potato sticks flavoured with a hickory-smoke taste. They are commonly associated with the Hostess snack brand and later with Lay's Canada distribution.

Brand history

Source material indicates that Hostess was a major Canadian potato chip brand for many years and that Hickory Sticks remained its main retail product after the broader brand was revived as Munchies in 2024.

Product variations

The standard product is hickory-smoke flavoured, and a salt-and-vinegar variety was reintroduced in 2021.

Canadian market presence

Hickory Sticks are described as having broad distribution in Canada, making them a familiar mass-market snack rather than a niche regional product.

Key facts

  • Hickory Sticks are described as skinny, hickory-smoke flavoured potato chips or potato sticks.
  • They were the only remaining major Hostess retail product after the Hostess chip brand was revived as Munchies in 2024.
  • Frito-Lay reintroduced a salt-and-vinegar variety of Hickory Sticks in 2021.
  • The product is sold in Canada and is associated with the Hostess snack brand.
  • Source material describes the brand as maintaining broad distribution comparable to other Lay's Canada products.
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Canadian context

Hickory Sticks are a recognizable Canadian snack brand and part of Canada’s packaged-food culture.

Frequently asked questions

What are Hickory Sticks?
A Canadian potato snack made of thin stick-shaped pieces flavoured with hickory smoke.
Who makes Hickory Sticks?
They are associated with Hostess and later described as part of Lay's Canada distribution.
Are Hickory Sticks still sold?
Yes. Source material says they remained in production and widely distributed.
What flavours exist?
The standard hickory-smoke flavour is documented, and a salt-and-vinegar version was reintroduced in 2021.
Are Hickory Sticks the same as potato chips?
They are commonly described as potato sticks or skinny potato chips, meaning they are a chip-style snack rather than whole potatoes.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostess_Potato_Chips
    Supports: Hostess brand history, Hickory Sticks as remaining major retail product, Lay's Canada distribution, 2021 salt-and-vinegar reintroduction.
  2. Try Treats — https://www.trytreats.com/explore/northamerica/hickorysticks
    Supports: Description of Hickory Sticks as skinny, hickory-smoke flavoured potato chips and their association with Hostess.