An employee packs barbecue chips at Mister Bee Potato Chips in Parkersburg. The company for the second consecutive year as been named the Best West Virginia Made Food Product by West Virginia Living. (File Photo)

PARKERSBURG — Mister Bee Potato Chips was selected as the Best West Virginia Made Food Product in West Virginia Living magazine’s Best of West Virginia contest for the second consecutive year.

The state’s only potato chip manufacturer won after receiving the most customer votes.

“All of us at Mister Bee are truly thankful for our customers and retail relationships,” said Mary Anne Ketelsen, president of Mister Bee. “Our revitalized manufacturing facility and dedicated staff are allowing us to reach new heights and open new markets for our products, but the stamp of approval from our customers is our greatest achievement.”

Mister Bee is not resting on its laurels, Ketelsen said.

The company just returned from a successful trade show in Chicago promoting Mister Bee’s capabilities. In October, Mister Bee with the West Virginia Hive and New River Gorge Regional Development Authority created a new chip bag to promote the state’s new national park and preserve and extend distribution to southern West Virginia customers.

For the past three years, Mister Bee also has been a major sponsor of the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore to show support for active-duty military and Veterans. In 2019, Mister Bee created a special “Salute Our Military” bag.

The small, woman-owned business operating out of Parkersburg since 1951 employs 80 people, up from 20 employees when Ketelsen became president.

Readers of the West Virginia Living magazine nominated companies and products in 75 categories from July 18 to 31 and the top nominees, including Mister Bee, moved to the final round for September-October voting. Winners were announced in the magazine’s Winter issue.