Conversations with Hadley Boyd

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hadley Boyd.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started YATES! Folded Potato Chips because my mom and I couldn’t find a chip that was both free of seed oils and preservatives and had that satisfying crunch we love. I’ve always thought that the folded potato chips are the best chips in any given bag, so I wanted to create a brand of chips that would celebrate this texture. I decided to experiment in the kitchen, making a cleaner, crunchier chip to satisfy our cravings.

Fast forward to today: my mom helps prep the potatoes while I spend part of each week frying and seasoning our folded chips for the Brentwood Farmers Market. We’re steadily growing, with plans to bring our chips to select sandwich shops and delis across Los Angeles.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like any entrepreneurial journey, ours has definitely had its share of twists and turns. The biggest challenge has been scaling up to meet demand. What began as me folding four potato slices at a time in a cast-iron skillet has grown into running two fryers on my kitchen counter just to keep up.

We’re now in the process of moving into a commercial kitchen, which will be a huge step forward for our growth. Initially, I hoped to skip that step and go straight to working with a co-manufacturer, but our first deal unfortunately fell through at the final yard line. Since then, one of the toughest parts has been finding co-manufacturers and commercial kitchens that fit our budget and are open to partnering with a small but growing brand like ours.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I graduated from UCLA in 2018 and began my career with Teach For America, teaching 6th-grade math and science here in Los Angeles. From there, I transitioned into the entertainment industry, starting in the mailroom at WME and eventually becoming a seasoned assistant in the Scripted TV department. After the most recent writers’ strike, I decided to make a career pivot and join my family’s business, where I now manage real estate full-time.

I’m most proud of my ambition, strong work ethic, and ability to adapt and embrace change—especially during challenging times. I also have a healthy dose of stubbornness, which means I don’t give up easily. That persistence has carried me through every pivot in my journey so far.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Stop by and say hi at the Brentwood Farmers Market on Sundays from 9am-2pm! We also fulfill larger orders for events – you can find the link to submit an order on our Instagram page, @yateschips. Give us a follow to keep up with our latest flavors and happenings!

Pricing:

• 1 bag = $7
• 2+ bags = $5/bag

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @yateschips