Lay’s potato chips make up over a fourth of the US’s potato chip market
According to Statista, Lay’s controlled 29.4% of the American potato chip market last year, with its top products generating $1.7bn in sales.
Classic Salted to Beer n' Brats: There are over 160 varieties of Lay’s chips
Lay’s only sold Classic Salted until the introduction of Barbeque flavored chips in 1965, followed by Sour Cream and Onion in the 1970s.
Today, the company’s ‘culinologists’ constantly come up with new ideas, like global favorites like Indian Tikka Masala and regional specialties like Carolina Barbecue.
Cappuccino, Vegetable Soup and Beer n’ Brats are some of the oddest flavors.
Culinology: A sushi chef is the mastermind behind some of Lay’s iconic flavors
At the heart of Frito-Lay's Flavor Kitchen is the discipline of Culinology, a collaborative approach to product development that involves a team of research chefs and food scientists who combine culinary arts with science and technology.
The department is headed up by Chef Jody Denton, who has more than 30 years’ experience in restaurant kitchens across the globe. He also owned and operated a Mediterranean bistro and a modern Japanese Izakaya & sushi bar.
A Yum! Lay’s offers a million bucks for great new flavor ideas
PepsiCo has held the ‘Do Us a Flavor’ contest since 2012 in numerous countries inviting consumers to come up with new flavors. The winner walks off with $1bn.
Winning flavors include Cheesy Garlic Bread (2012), Wasabi Ginger (2014) Southern Biscuits and Gravy (2015) and Crispy Taco (2017).
Chipsy, Walkers and Poca: Lay’s has more than one name
While Lay’s is recognized and sold around the world, the potato chips are also sold under different brand names in different regions, including Frenchitas in Argentina, Smith’s in Australia, Elma in Brazil, Margarita in Columbia, Chipsy in Egypt, Tapuchips in Israel, Sabritas in Mexico, Poca in Vietnam and Walkers in the UK.
Four to five potatoes go into each bag of Lay’s chips
Lay’s sources its potatoes from 120 different farms in 25 US states, including Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Washington, Maine and California. Four to five potatoes go into each bag of potato chips – which are cooked in oils like sunflower, canola and corn.
The snack producer is committed to reducing sodium and saturated fats in its products. Between 2006 and 2015, it claims to have removed 409 tons of sodium and more than 12,000 tons of saturated fat from its portfolio.
Lay’s contains Vitamin C
A 50g serving of Lay’s BBQ chips contains 270 calories, 17g of fat and 270mg of sodium. Moreover, although minimal, they contain 15% Vitamin C.
Betcha can't eat just one: Lay’s was one of the first snacks to advertise on TV
The H.W. Lay & Company was one of the first snack food companies to advertise on television in 1944. The commercial features the debut of the company's first animated character, ‘Oscar, the Happy Potato.’
From Gary Lineker to Saif Ali Khan: Lay’s has a number of celeb fans
Bert Lahr, best known for his role as the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz, was Lay's first celebrity spokesperson. He appeared in a number of Lay’s ads during the 1960s in the popular ‘Betcha can't eat just one’ campaign.
Professional footballer and sports commentator Gary Lineker, cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan and Ranbir Kapoor and Pakistan’s pop star Ali Zafar are among the celebs to have endorsed the brand.
World biggest Frito pie: Lay’s broke a world record
In 2012, Frito-Lay and the State Fair of Texas teamed up to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the brand to create the world’s largest Frito pie. The 1,325lb Frito chili pie contained 635 bags of Fritos corn chips and broke a Guinness World Record.
