Kevin Holden (entrepreneur)

Kevin Holden is an American businessman and entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of Bite Brands, a private label snacks company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Holden founded the first tortilla chip factory in the state of Louisiana.

Career

In 1992 Holden became president and CEO of Vegas Chips, a Nevada based potato chip manufacturer, until it was purchased by Pacific Snaxs in 1994. During Holden's presidency at Vegas Chips the company saw moderate successes, Holden was quoted as saying, "In our peak, every casino had Vegas Chips in their little gift shop and in their vending machines and in their gift baskets," and "We were in all the grocery stores."

His presidency at Vegas Chips also oversaw the theft of $700 when a truck driver claimed that two men attempted to rob the Vegas Chips truck as they believed that it was transporting casino chips to a nearby hotel. Though this was later found to be false and the driver was sentenced to two years in prison. The story has become a hoax in the region.

After the sale of Vegas Chips, Holden eventually worked for Zapp's as a general manager and shareholder. In 2008 Holden developed the popular Zapp's flavor, "Voodoo"; originally titled "Voodoo Gumbo", a modified form of the All-dressed flavor of Canadian cuisine. Following the sale of Zapp's to Utz Brands in January 2011, Holden continued on as a general manager of Zapp's until 2013, when he and Rod Olson left the company to found Hola Nola Foods, which manufactured tortilla chips of various flavors including a red beans and rice flavor and a creole flavor, among others, salsa, and tortillas. Hola Nola also sold tortilla chips in microwavable bags. In 2018, after an expansion into Houston, Holden acquired Plocky's, which allowed the business to expand into corn chips. In 2021 the 13,000 square foot Hola Nola manufacturing plant in Geismar, Louisiana caught fire due to an electrical error. The plant was completely destroyed and as of May 2026 has not been rebuilt.

After the fire at the Hola Nola, Holden became a majority owner at Mister Bee Potato Chips, producing private label products such as Rap Snacks, a popular potato chip brand that makes chip flavors themed around various rappers, including but not limited to: Lil Baby, Moneybagg Yo, Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, Durkio, Migos, Boosie, and Master P at the Mister Bee plant in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Holden also introduced new flavors such as Pepperoni Roll, "304 Style", and Tudor's Biscuits and Gravy.

As founder and CEO of Bite Brands, Holden is the president of Hola Nola Foods, Terrel's Potato Chips, Tortillas de Casa, Tri-Sum, Mister Bee, and Vegas Chips, which was repurchased in 2022.

Personal life

Holden is married to his wife, Georgia Holden (neé Milford), his father-in-law was George Milford, owner and operator of the California Club, who died in 2016.

In 2015, Holden was featured in a Q&A panel about entrepreneurship.

In 2021 Holden resided in Prairieville, Louisiana.

[https://www.bitebrands.com/about#:~:text=about%20us,and%20carefully%20managing%20transportation%20logistics. Bite Brands]