Betty's Classics: Berks County's Beloved Deli Salads Are Back's

Betty's is one of a handful of eateries who make their own brand of potato salad, coleslaw, and other foods. For over 90 years, the brand had been a staple in Berks County. In 1999, the brand was sold, and by 2008, all operations had ceased.

"My mother used to get Betty's for her family, and my other family things," Oxley recalled. "We would all have it at every family dinner. Everything Betty's potato salad, macaroni salad, and everything else she's made I'd eat it myself."

She's not alone. Some might call this just another market entrance for Betty's Classics Version 2.0.

Owner Mike Marcinko officially calls Betty's Classics Version 2.0 a "rebranding with a purpose." In 1999 and 2003, Marcinko's father, Van Bennett, bought the business. For over 10 years, Marcinko worked on and off with his father, helping him with the family business of manufacturing food.

Reading Eagle's Business Weekly magazine, dated December 13, 2023, features an article on the return of Betty's, a well-loved food brand from Berks County. The article, titled "Bringing back Betty's," highlights how owner Mike Marcinko is reviving the brand by going back to its original recipes and focusing on quality.

The article also includes a photo of Mike Marcinko standing in a kitchen with a Betty's Classics sign in the background. The text describes how Marcinko, whose family previously owned the business, decided to relaunch the brand after it had been dormant for several years.

The article quotes Marcinko, "I realized my dad had his chances to try something different - for a while." It also mentions that the new Betty's Classics is using the original recipes and will be available at local farmers' markets and specialty food stores.

The article details the history of the Betty's brand, noting that it was first established in 1934 and was known for its potato salad, coleslaw, and other deli products. It explains that the brand was sold twice and eventually went out of business, but the new version aims to bring back the quality and tradition that made it so popular.

A small section on the side of the page provides contact information for Betty's Classics, including its website, Facebook, and Instagram handles. Another section, "A History of Van Bennett Foods Inc.," gives a brief timeline of the family's business history, starting with Van Bennett's grandfather, who founded the company in 1934.

BY KIMBERLY MASIADO READING EAGLE BUSINESS