Frito-Lay

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Ex-PepsiCo Exec Is Suing Over Flamin' Hot Cheetos

Richard Montanez says he invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos, claims company ruined his career

(Newser) - A court case could soon settle a spicy dispute: Who invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos? A former PepsiCo executive is suing the company, saying it destroyed his career after questioning his claim that he invented the popular flavor of Cheetos. According to his lawsuit, Richard Montanez began working for PepsiCo as...

PepsiCo Sets 'Not Easy' Packaging Goal for Doritos

Company wants all packaging for its snack brands to be compostable or otherwise green by 2030

(Newser) - Most people like their chips crunchy, but one of the nation's largest food and beverage conglomerates wants the bags they come in to dissolve softly and safely into the earth and ether. On Wednesday, the head of PepsiCo Foods North America, Steven Williams, popped up during the virtual CNBC...

After 20-Day Strike, Frito-Lay Is Ending 'Suicide Shifts'

Workers at Kansas plant will get one guaranteed day off per week

(Newser) - When the chips were down, Frito-Lay decided to meet a key demand of striking workers and guarantee them one day off a week. The company and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers union reached an agreement over the weekend to end a 20-day strike at a Topeka, Kansas,...

Workers: Frito-Lay Makes Us Work 12-Hour Days, Every Day

Some employees at Topeka plant claim they haven't had a single day off in 5 months

(Newser) - The worker shortages caused by the pandemic are being felt nationwide, and a Frito-Lay plant in Topeka, Kansas, is no exception. CBS News reports that a strike there is now at day 16, with a local union saying many workers are putting in 84-hour weeks. That's 12 hours a...

The World Has a Cheetos Controversy
The World Has
a Cheetos Controversy

The World Has a Cheetos Controversy

Richard Montanez claims to be creator of Flamin' Hot variety, but company calls that 'urban legend'

(Newser) - It's such a good story that Searchlight Pictures is currently making a movie based upon it. But an investigative piece by the Los Angeles Times suggests the tale about the origins of Flamin' Hot Cheetos is, in fact, too good to be true. The short version: Richard Montanez claims...

Cheetos Lawyers Up Against Peatos
Cheetos Lawyers Up
Against Peatos

Cheetos Lawyers Up Against Peatos

Accuses healthier alternative of copyright infringement

(Newser) - They're orange, and they're called Peatos. The takeoff on Cheetos is unmistakable, and the snack behemoth isn't happy about it. The Wall Street Journal reports that Cheetos maker Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo, has sent a cease-and-desist letter to World Peas Brand Peatos . The Cheetos lawyers say...

5 Huge Brand Names That Are Behind Trader Joe's Products
That Trader Joe's Snack May Be
More Familiar Than You Think
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

That Trader Joe's Snack May Be More Familiar Than You Think

PepsiCo, Frito-Lay, or other big brand names might be behind your favorite TJ items

(Newser) - If you've ever eaten a Trader Joe's product and thought, "Huh, this tastes almost exactly like the brand-name version of the same product," you're probably right. Brands—including, in some cases, major ones like PepsiCo—often supply their products to Trader Joe's, which then...

The Cheetos Restaurant You Didn't Know You Wanted Is Here

Just for 3 days in New York City, starting next Tuesday

(Newser) - Frito-Lay is getting in on New York City's "Restaurant Week" (which is really more like "Restaurant Month") by opening a pop-up eatery with a menu full of Cheetos-themed cuisine. The Spotted Cheetah opens its doors in lower Manhattan for just three days next week, starting on...

What Happens When a Beer Truck Crashes Into a Chips Truck

That's one tasty Florida highway

(Newser) - It wasn't a happy hour for some central Florida drivers when trucks carrying Busch beer and Frito-Lay chips collided, spilling them both along Interstate 95 early Wednesday morning near Melbourne in what KUSA is calling a "couch potato's dream." Per the AP , Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman...

Cappuccino Potato Chips? America Says No

But Wasabi Ginger wins Lay's annual contest

(Newser) - Good news, Americans: You don't live in a country that tolerates cappuccino-flavored potato chips. But if Wasabi Ginger sounds equally dubious, well, pack your bags, because that's the winner of Lay's contest that gives people a chance to create a new flavor. Also-ran finalists included Mango Salsa...

New from Lay's: Chocolate-Covered Potato Chips

Limited-time snack arrives for holidays

(Newser) - Finally, Frito-Lay is saving you the trouble of physically dipping your potato chips in chocolate sauce. The company is releasing milk chocolate-covered chips for the holidays, and they're set to hit shelves next week—though only at Target, and only for a limited time, USA Today reports. "When...

How Scientists Get You to Love Junk Food

Cadbury, Kraft, Frito-Lay hire the experts

(Newser) - The makers of American junk food have your personal taste—but not your personal health—down to an exact science, the New York Times Magazine reports. With Americans plagued by obesity and type 2 diabetes , companies like Cadbury Schweppes, Kraft, and Frito-Lay are hiring experts to conduct lengthy studies on...

Coming Soon: Caffeinated Cracker Jacks
Coming Soon:
Caffeinated Cracker Jacks
in case you missed it

Coming Soon: Caffeinated Cracker Jacks

Called Cracker Jack'd, of course

(Newser) - Because the world needs one more caffeinated product: The maker of Cracker Jacks will be rolling out a Cracker Jack'd line that includes two varieties with coffee as an ingredient, reports Advertising Age . Each 2-ounce serving will have 70mg of caffeine, which is in the ballpark (on the low...

Woman Sues Frito-Lay Over 'All Natural' Claims

Tostitos, Sun Chips made with genetically modified oil: suit

(Newser) - Almost exactly one year ago, your helpful Newser editors informed you that Frito-Lay had big plans for 2011: to make 50% of its line from "all-natural" ingredients. And according to one California woman, that effort has been a big fail. Julie Gengo has filed a class-action lawsuit against Frito-Lay,...

Doritos Creator to Have Chips Tossed Into Grave

Arch West died last week at age 97

(Newser) - Not even death can come between a man and his Doritos. Arch West, the Frito-Lay marketing exec credited with inventing the chip brand, died last week at age 97, reports the AP , and his Oct. 1 graveside service will feature the chips he dreamed up after stumbling upon a San...

Sun Chips Tries Again With Quieter Bag

Company debuts new biodegradable packaging

(Newser) - Sun Chips is out with another biodegradable bag, but this time it swears you won't need ear protection. Frito-Lay backtracked on last year's really, really loud version amid complaints, ridicule, and poor sales. Now the company has begun putting a new biodegradable bag on shelves (for the "Original" chips),...

Frito-Lay to Make Half Its Chips All-Natural

But don't expect Doritos or Cheetos to join the party

(Newser) - Frito-Lay: Health food company? Well, not exactly, but the oft-maligned snack maker is giving its line a makeover that should play well with the Whole Foods crowd. Starting in 2011, 50% of its line will be made from all-natural ingredients, USA Today reports. That means no more sodium diacetate in...

Sun Chips Dumps Loud —and Green—Bag

No one wants their chips to sound like a jet engine, apparently

(Newser) - Frito-Lay tried to go green, it really did, but that compostable Sun Chips bag was just too darn loud . The biodegradable bag, made from plant material, made more of a splash for its ridiculous volume than it did for its ability to be recycled, and has been compared to a...

15 Really, Really Awful New Potato Chip Flavors
15 Really, Really Awful New Potato Chip Flavors 
Food Review

15 Really, Really Awful New Potato Chip Flavors

A scathing look at Walkers' faux-international flavors

(Newser) - Walkers Crisps—the British version of Lay’s—is celebrating the World Cup the best way it knows how: by launching a whopping 15 new flavors of potato chips, each modeled after a different World Cup nation. There’s just one problem, writes Charlie Brooker of the Guardian : They’re...

Small Firm Nabs $650K Prize for Super Bowl Ad

Crafty dog spot from small NC firm comes in 2nd with viewers

(Newser) - A crafty dog and a bag of Doritos combined to create a memorable Super Bowl ad and a big payday for a small North Carolina production company—$650,000. The firm won $50,000 for the spot originally and another $600,000 for taking the runner-up spot in real-time viewer...

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