I used to go to a big international grocery store 2 hours away to get things like Zapps chips, but then they showed up (briefly) in Target a couple years ago and now are everywhere with every type available in multiple sizes at Walmart in Ohio.
Other things I remember from back home (East Coast) that weren’t here in the Midwest when I moved in the mid-00s but made their way out here eventually - Yeungling beer (apparently a big deal at the time), UTZ chips and pretzels (though for some reason full-sized sourdough pretzels of any brand are not that easy to find), and Tastykakes. We have Conns and Jay’s chips here but I never saw them back home.
Moon Pies and RC cola were even a thing when I was a kid on the East coast in the '80s.
In the nineties they had RC Cola at Yankee Stadium.
I remember my parents getting Charles Chips delivered when I was a kid (late 60s, north St Louis county). Mom had a couple of the big tins (one chips, one pretzels) that she kept and used to fill up with cookies during her annual Christmas cookie baking binge.
One local/regional (KC area/NE Kansas) brand I haven’t seen mentioned is Señor Stan’s salsa. It was one of my favorite salsas for a number of years, then IIRC the owner died and ownership passed to his brother, who was not interested in keeping the business running. I don’t remember if they quit making it altogether or just significantly scaled back production, but it was difficult (if not impossible) to find for a few years. But they started making it again a few years ago and now it is back on the shelves.
Oh, man, you just triggered a memory. When I was a boy, in northeastern Ohio, one of the crossing guards on my way to school was a retired man named Clark. At Hallowe’en and Christmas and other holidays, he’d hand out miniature Clark bars. He was a sweet, grandfatherly man, and much-loved among my classmates.
I think Pearson’s candies are regional. Salted Nut Rolls, Mint Patties and my favorite Nut Goodies! I know they are or used to be a Minnesota company.
I stocked Goo Goo Clusters in the Michigan 7-Eleven I managed in the early 80s. (Doesn’t mean they are still available here now.)
Sanders was a long-existing Detroit area chain of ice-cream (and other desserts) stores and they also made products (like their hot fudge) that you could find in local grocery stores.
This confused the hell out of me because Hellman’s is sold globally (and is a household name here in the UK). Except, according to wiki, in the US, where it is only sold ‘east of the Rockies’. You learn something every day.
Pearson’s was bought by the Annabelle Candy Company, out of Hayward, California. It makes me sad, but I understand that the factory is being brought up to date by the new owners. https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-business/pearsons-candy-company-sold-to-california-candy-maker