This is a cheesy tale of Canadian greatness, the story of Hawkins Cheezies
They came from Chicago to Canada, the bold move that sparked a crunchy legacy. Before Hawkins Cheezies became a national icon, the story began in a rather unexpected place... Chicago. Yes, the land of deep-dish pizza and jazz music gave us the man behind Canada's favourite fluorescent-orange snack.
His name was W.T. Hawkins, a sharp-minded businessman with a background in snack food distribution. In the late 1940s, he saw a cheesy opportunity—and decided to take it north. Along with his inventive partner James Marker, an Ohioan farmer with a knack for machine-building, Hawkins packed up a corn-puffing contraption and moved to Tweed, Ontario .
There, in a small-town setting, the first bags of what would become known as Hawkins Cheezies were born.
Trial by Fire and the Belleville Rebuild
Things were looking up… until they caught fire. Literally.
In 1956, the original plant in Tweed burned down. But instead of packing it in, Hawkins and Marker moved operations to nearby Belleville, Ontario , where they rebuilt from the ground up—keeping the same quirky machinery and old-school production methods.
Today, that same machine design, maintained for over 70 years, still gives Cheezies their trademark shape and satisfying crunch.
What Makes a Cheezie, a Cheezie?
Let’s clear something up: Hawkins Cheezies are not your average cheese puff.
- Made with real aged Canadian cheddar? Sure is!
- Cooked in small batches using vintage extruder tech? Yep!
- Crunch that echoes across the room? You bet.
- No artificial fluff or gimmicks? Never.
This isn’t just snack food, it’s a crunchy love letter to tradition.
Marketing the Canadian Way: Quietly Iconic
While other snack brands went all-in on mascots, jingles, and TV commercials, Hawkins kept it humble. Their secret? Let the snack speak for itself.
No glossy ad campaigns. No overproduced TikTok dances. Just an honest product that won people over the old-fashioned way: one bag at a time.
The brand grew through word-of-mouth, corner stores, and Canadian loyalty. Generations came to know the red-and-white bag as a staple at hockey games, camping trips, and long drives through the Rockies.
A Crunchy Future, Made in Canada
Even as times change, Hawkins remains proudly rooted in Belleville. In fact, the company recently broke ground on a new 51,000-square-foot expansion, proving that sometimes, being a little cheesy is just good business.
In fact, Hawkins is still family-run, still fiercely Canadian, and still making only one product! It is a rarity in today’s snack landscape. But it works. Why mess with perfection?
A Canadian Snack with Soul
Whether you’re:
- Sitting around a bonfire
- Cheering on the Leafs (or Habs—we don’t judge)
- Cruising through the Trans-Canada Highway
There’s always room for a bag of Hawkins Cheezies. It’s more than a snack—it’s part of the Canadian story.
Towns Canada Fun Fact!
W.T. Hawkins’ partner James Marker is credited with inventing the original extruder machine that gives Cheezies their iconic shape. Marker remained devoted to maintaining the original machines—one of which still operates today!
Have a Crunchy Memory to Share?
Do Cheezies remind you of summers at the lake?
Got a photo of a vintage Hawkins bag?
Drop your story in the comments and be part of Canadian snack history!