Exclusive First Look: Caffeinated Chips Landing In 1,100+ Stores Nationwide

Snack Meets Energy Drink: Bangers Chips Launch Nationwide with a Caffeinated Crunch for Gen Z

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – June 22, 2025 – A San Francisco startup is shaking up the snack aisle with what might be the most electrifying chip in America. Bangers Snacks, Inc. announced today the national launch of its 200mg caffeinated potato chips, hitting 1,100+ ExtraMile Convenience Stores (at select Chevrons and Jacksons Food Stores) this week and throughout the summer.

Each 2.5 ounce bag of Bangers Energy Chips packs the same caffeine punch as two cups of coffee, without the can or the crash. Available in two bold flavors – smoky BBQ and sweet Paradise – the snack is priced around $3.49, offering a cheaper (and crunchier) alternative to traditional energy drinks.

“We didn’t want to be just another chip on the shelf,” said Phillip Tran, CEO and Founder of Bangers Snacks. “We built Bangers for the students pulling all-nighters, the gamers grinding late, and the hustlers who’d rather snack than sip.”

Tran, who first came up with the idea as a tired Stanford University college student juggling energy drinks and salty snacks, is now betting big that the next wave of energy products will come in solid form, not liquid. Early pilot store sales sold out within hours, and the company is eyeing additional retail expansion and new flavors this summer.

To win over Gen Z, Bangers didn’t just take its chips to shelves, it took them into the metaverse. In a one-of-a-kind marketing play, the company embedded branded vending machines and billboards across 150+ Roblox games, tapping into 6+ billion total visits and 250+ million monthly active users. Through immersive in-game product placements, players can interact with Bangers chips in races, grocery runs, and even snack-themed parks, all pushing one message: Bangers is the snack for the next generation! 

“We’re not just a food brand,” Tran said. “We’re building something that lives in real life and digital life. You snack in real life, and now you see Bangers in your favorite games too.”

The chips come with a clear caffeine warning label, much like energy drinks, advising they’re not for kids, pregnant women, or the caffeine-sensitive. But for everyone else, it’s a functional and flavorful snack that hits — fast.

With the U.S. functional food and beverage market booming, and convenience stores doubling down on energy-focused products, Bangers Snacks is poised to lead a whole new category: energy you can eat!