How TikTok's Spud Bros sent jacket potatoes global

Jacob and Harley run their business from an old tram carriage in Preston

"You can never get sick of spuds," says Jacob Nelson, one half of the Spud Bros, whose fun videos of jacket potatoes loaded with various fillings have garnered them over seven million followers worldwide across all their social media.

Jacob, 30, and his 22-year-old brother Harley run their business from an old tram carriage in Preston's Flag Market.

There have been tuber-based offerings on the site since 1955 when Ernie Rhodes set up his hot potato cart before passing it on to Keith Roberts.

His son Keith junior "became an absolute legend for Preston," Harley said. When Keith died, Harley and his dad Tony bought the business.

"We started in 2020 with the second [Covid-19 pandemic] lockdown, Tony said.

"Me and Harley were there and we opened the hatch and there wasn't a soul around.

"I turned to Harley and said 'what have we done?'."

But then older brother Jacob, aka Jake, came on board.

"Jake's vision was to create a global brand from a small potato truck and inspire the youngsters that you can do anything," dad Tony said.

It seems to have all gone according to plan.

Scores on people on the Flag Market in Preston waiting for their lunchtime staple

Millions have watched the videos from the tater tram and the Spud Bros now boast 4.2 million TikTok followers and more than seven million followers worldwide on all their socials.

They credit their dad, the "Spudfather" for their unlikely fame as he was the one who started the TikTok account, gaining 60,000 followers with his "dad dancing" and "dressing up in some questionable costumes".

"We rebranded to Spud Bros in 2023, and I think within two or three days of posting our second video, it went viral," Jacob said.

"It just snowballed from there."

Jacob, Tony and Harley Nelson - or, the Spud Bros with the Spudfather

The Lancashire lads have recently joined YouTube and already have more than a million subscribers.

"We post 'day in the life' and 'behind the scenes' long-form videos," Jacob said.

"We've got Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, so we're across all platforms and producing 500 million views a month - and that's just from a potato.

"The support from everybody is unreal and we're forever grateful.

"It is hard work, but we just keep going, doing Preston proud, we love it."

They are known for their generosity, giving away free potatoes to the first in the queue - and there's always a queue.

And for anyone wanting to know the most popular topping? Garlic butter, cheese, beans "our famous tram sauce" and crispy onions - and the potatoes are sourced from local farmers.

The potatoes are sourced from local farmers

They are also hoping to replace their original Flag Market tram with a new unit the size of two shipping containers and plan to have shops in London, Liverpool and "we're also going global, we're going to Amsterdam".

But their hearts will always remain in their home city - and they've just been announced as the front-of-shirt sponsor for Preston North End for 2025-26.

"Everything that we do is for Preston," Jacob said. "Even though we are collaborating with some of the biggest influencers out there like Mr Beast and Will Smith, we will always come back to Preston.

"With hard work, passion, vision, you can achieve anything."