Frito‑Lay and the Rise of the Packaged Snack Oligopoly (1961-2000)

1. Frito and Lay companies merge into Frito-Lay

   Sep 1, 1961Labels: Frito-Lay

   • TSHA
   • Frito Lay Wiki

2. Doritos is developed and named by Frito-Lay

   Jan 1, 1965Labels: Doritos

   • TSHA
   • Doritos Wiki

3. Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola announce merger plan

   Feb 1, 1965Labels: Frito-Lay, Pepsi-Cola

   • Frito Lay Wiki
   • Company Histories

4. PepsiCo is formed from Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay

   Jun 8, 1965Labels: PepsiCo

   • Frito Lay Wiki
   • Company Histories

5. Doritos rolls out nationally in the United States

   Jan 1, 1966Labels: Doritos

   • Doritos Wiki
   • Frito Lay Wiki

6. Funyuns launches as a new processed corn snack

   Jan 1, 1969Labels: Funyuns

   • Funyuns Wiki
   • USPT0 Report

7. Frito Bandito advertising campaign is cancelled

   Jan 1, 1971Labels: Frito Bandito

   • TSHA

8. PepsiCo buys Pizza Hut, expanding corporate food reach

   Nov 1, 1977Labels: Pizza Hut, PepsiCo

   • Pizza Hut Wiki
   • Yum Wiki

9. PepsiCo purchases Taco Bell to grow its restaurant division

   Jan 1, 1978Labels: Taco Bell, PepsiCo

   • Britannica
   • Yum Wiki

10. Tostitos is introduced, then scaled nationally

    Jan 1, 1981Labels: Tostitos

    • Tostitos Wiki
    • Company Histories

11. PepsiCo buys Walkers and Smiths in the UK

    Jul 3, 1989Labels: Walkers, Smiths

    • UPI
    • LA Times

12. SunChips test launch targets “healthier” snack positioning

    Oct 9, 1989Labels: SunChips

    • SunChips Wiki
    • UPI

13. SunChips gains national release after strong market test

    Mar 1, 1991Labels: SunChips

    • SunChips Wiki
    • UPI

14. PepsiCo spins off restaurant chains as Tricon

    Oct 7, 1997Labels: Tricon, PepsiCo

    • Washington Post
    • CNN

15. Frito-Lay agrees to acquire Cracker Jack from Borden

    Oct 9, 1997Labels: Cracker Jack, Frito-Lay

    • LA Times
    • Spokesman

16. PepsiCo enters 2000 with snacks as a core global engine

    Jan 1, 2000Labels: PepsiCo

    • Frito Lay Wiki
    • UPI