Fritos
Fritos logo
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| Product type | Corn chip |
|---|---|
| Owner | Frito-Lay |
| Introduced | 1932 |
| Related brands | Doritos Tostitos Cheetos |
| Website | Official Website |
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Fritos is a brand of corn chips created in 1932 by Charles Elmer Doolin and produced since 1959 by Frito-Lay. They are made from a deep-fried extrusion of masa.
Origins
According to popular lore, Fritos hail from San Antonio, Texas, where C. E. Doolin, who apparently had an obsession with making a snack based on corn that would not go stale too quickly, found a local man who had deep-fried corn snacks made from an extrusion of masa. Doolin bought the man's patent and recipe, and with the help of his mother perfected the recipe in his own kitchen (in much the same way that he later invented Cheetos).[1] He began selling Fritos in 1932 under the moniker of the Frito Corporation. Original Fritos ingredients were limited to whole corn, corn oil, and salt.
From 1952–67, the Frito Kid was the company's official mascot.[2] The Frito Bandito was its mascot from 1967 until about 1971, and was discontinued due to complaints about the Bandito image. He was initially replaced by the Muncha Bunch, a group of cowboys, which then were replaced by W.C. Fritos, modeled after comedian W.C. Fields.
Varieties
- Adobados (in Mexico)
- BBQ
- Bar-B-Q Hoops (in Canada)
- Chili Cheese
- Chile and Lime (in Mexico)
- Chorizo and Chipotle (in Mexico)
- Chutney (in South Africa)
- Flamin' Hot
- Limited Edition Wild 'n Mild Ranch (Limited re-release of discontinued flavor – late 2012)
- Original
- Peri Peri Waves (rippled chips – in South Africa)
- Pinch of Salt
- Salt and Lime (in Mexico)
- Scoops! (wider, cupped chips intended for dipping)
- Sweet Chilli (in South Africa)
- Sweet Chilli Twists (fusilli-shaped chips – in South Africa)
- Tomato Sauce (in South Africa)
- Tomato Ribbons (similar shape to regular Fritos – in South Africa)
Additionally, a sub-brand called Flavor Twists is produced in two flavors in the United States:
- Honey Barbecue Flavor Twists
- Cheddar Ranch Flavor Twists (Available only in Munchies Totally Ranch snack mix)
Discontinued variations:
- King Size
- Fritos Lite
- Fritos Tabasco
- Fritos Racerz (late 1990s), the Fritos material formed into a more crunchy race car shape were sold for a short while before the introduction of Twists. They were marketed by Jeff Gordon.
- Jalapeño (late 1980s)
- Nacho Cheese (late 1980s-early 1990s)
- Wild 'n Mild Ranch (1986-late 1990s)
- Cheddar Ranch Twists (late 1990s-early 2000s)
- Jalapeño Cheddar Twists (late 1990s-early 2000s)
- Texas Grill, a thicker version of the original with "grill strips" on the chips. The honey barbecue flavor transitioned over to the twists.
- McGraw's Spicy Jalapeño (limited edition; 2008, 2009)
- Ballpark Nacho (limited edition; 2010)
- Tapatio Flavor Twists
- Tex-Mex Flavor Twists
- Tangy Roasted Corn
