# Lay's

Lay's (/leɪz/) is a brand of potato chips with different flavors, as well as the name of the company that founded the chip brand in the United States. The brand is also referred to as Frito-Lay, as both Lay's and Fritos are brands sold by the Frito-Lay company, which has been a wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo since 1965. Frito-Lay primarily uses the brand name "Lay's" in the United States and Canada, and uses other brand names in some other countries, such as Walkers in the UK and Ireland, and Smith's in Australia.

## History

In 1932, salesman Herman Lay opened a snack food operation in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1938, he purchased the Atlanta, Georgia-based potato manufacturer "Barrett Food Company", renaming it "H.W. Lay Lingo & Company". Lay crisscrossed the southern United States, selling the product from the trunk of his car.
In 1961, the Frito Company, founded by Charles E. Doolin, merged with Lay’s, forming Frito-Lay Inc., a snack food giant with combined sales of over $127 million annually, which was then the highest sales revenue earned by any manufacturer. Shortly thereafter, Lay's introduced what became its best-known slogan: "betcha can't eat just one". Sales of the chips became international, with marketing assisted by a number of celebrity endorsers. Annual revenues for Frito-Lay exceeded $180 million by 1965, when the company had more than 8,000 employees and 46 manufacturing plants.
In 1965, Frito-Lay merged with the Pepsi-Cola Company to form PepsiCo, Inc. In 1991, the company introduced a new formulation of their chip that was crisper and kept fresher longer. Shortly thereafter, the company introduced the "Wavy Lay's" products to grocery shelves, with a national rollout in 1994. In the mid- to late 1990s, Lay's introduced a lower-calorie baked variety, and a fat-free variety (Lay's WOW chips) that contained the fat substitute olestra.
In the 2000s, the company introduced “kettle-cooked” varieties, as well as a more highly processed variety (Lay's Stax) that was intended to compete with Pringles, and several differently flavored varieties.
In 2012, Frito-Lay products comprised 59% of the United States savory snack-food market.
In April 2019, PepsiCo's Indian subsidiary sued four farmers in Gujarat, India for copyright infringement, claiming they were growing a variety of potatoes trademarked by the company for exclusive use in its Lay's potato chips. Two years later, the ruling was done in the farmers' favour under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001.

## International branding

Frito-Lay primarily uses the brand name "Lay's" in the United States, and uses other brand names in some other countries, including Walkers (UK and Ireland); Smith's (Australia); Chipsy (Egypt and the West Balkans); Tapuchips (Israel); Margarita (Colombia); and Sabritas (Mexico).

## Nutritional information

As with most snack foods, the Lay's brands contain very few vitamins and minerals in any variety. At ten percent of the daily requirement per serving, vitamin C is the highest. Salt content is particularly high, with a serving containing as much as 380 mg of sodium.
A one-ounce (28 gram) serving of Lay's regular potato chips has 160 calories, and contains ten grams of fat, with one gram of saturated fat. Kettle-cooked brands have seven to eight grams of fat and one gram of saturated fat, and are 140 calories. Lay's Natural has nine grams of fat, two grams of saturated fat and 150 calories. Stax chips typically contain ten grams of fat, 2.5 grams saturated fat, and are 160 calories per serving. Wavy Lay's are identical to the regular brand, except for a half-gram less of saturated fat in some combinations. Now the various brands do not contain any trans fats.
A 50 gram serving of Lay's BarBQ chips contains 270 calories, and 17 grams of fat. It also contains 270 mg of sodium, and 15% of the daily recommended dose of Vitamin C.
The baked variety, introduced in the mid 1990s, feature 1.5 grams of fat per one ounce serving, and have no saturated fat. Each serving has 110 to 120 calories. Lay's Light servings are 75 calories per ounce and have no fat.
Lay's Classic Potato chips were cooked in hydrogenated oil until 2003. In 2024, according to ET, in the United States the chips are made with sunflower, corn and/or canola oil.

## International

| Country | Description |
| Argentina | PepsiCo commercialized potato chips under the name Frenchitas until 2001. They are now marketed under the Lay's label. |
| Australia | PepsiCo acquired The Smith's Snackfood Company in 1998 and marketed Frito-Lay products under that label, using the name Thins. After Thin's was sold to Snack Brands Australia (Owned by Arnotts), Smith's produced a line of potato chips under the Lay's brand for a brief period of time. The Lay's line was eventually rebranded in 2004 as Smith's Chips, while the traditional Smith's line was renamed Smith's Crinkles. This is still sold in Australia as a direct competitor to Smith's Chips. Since 2009, Lay's have been available in Australia exclusively at Costco, where they are available in a single flavor and size (500g plain). They continue to be manufactured in Australia by Smith's. |
| Bangladesh | Transcom Group have marketed and produced Lay's as they manage the franchise of PepsiCo in the country. It has been introduced in 2023 and Lay's India helped them to establish its production plant in Bogra District. |
| Benelux | Lay's used to be called Smiths in Belgium and the Netherlands until the name was changed in 2001. |
| Brazil | The first attempt to sell the brand in the country was in 1999, but it was discontinued after a short time. In 2004 another brand of chips began to be sold under the name Sensações (lit. Sensations) being targeted to the older audience with more exquisite flavors. It returned in 2013 and has remained on sale since then. In 2021, the Sensações brand was renamed as Lay's Sensações. |
| Canada | As Lay's were produced by another company at that time, the chips were known as Hostess. In 1996, Hostess was rebranded to Lay's with a television commercial featuring Mark Messier and Eric Lindros aired in 1997 that relaunched the brand. |
| Colombia | The chips are sold under the name Margarita. They are still commercialized under the label Lay's, however. |
| Egypt | Lay's was once sold under its own label until it was merged with the local label Chipsy (Egyptian Arabic pronunciation:), which has since become the local unit of Lay's under much the same arrangement as Walkers. |
| India | Cricketers Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir and actors Saif Ali Khan and Ranbir Kapoor have endorsed Lay's. It has been introduced in 1995 as Ruffles Lay's and it retained the name until 1999. |
| Indonesia | The Lay's label is distributed in Indonesia under the name Chitato Lite after the licensing agreement between PepsiCo and Indofood had expired in 2021. |
| Israel | Lay's label is distributed with the name Tapuchips (תפוצ'יפס) by Strauss-Elite. |
| Mexico | PepsiCo acquired Sabritas S. de R.L. in 1966. Lay's along with other products such as Cheetos, Fritos, Doritos and Ruffles are marketed under the Sabritas brand. The logo for the Mexican company sports the red ribbon, but it has a stylized smiling face instead of the sun. It controls around 80% of the market. |
| Pakistan | In Pakistan, Lay's has been introduced in 2007 and has been endorsed by a renowned star of the country Ali Zafar. It is owned by Frito-Lay Pakistan alongside other brands such as Cheetos, Kurkure etc. |
| Serbia | Lay's are distributed as Chipsy, domestic company acquired by PepsiCo in 2008. |
| South Africa | Lay's are distributed by the Simba Chip company. |
| United Arab Emirates | Lay's are sold as different labels. |
| Vietnam | The chips were sold under the name of Poca until it was rebranded to Lay's in 2019. |

## Flavors

| Country | Flavors |
| Belgium | Lay's: Natural, Paprika, Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Pickles, Barbecue Ham, Classic Burger, Bolognese, Roasted Chicken. Lay's MAX: Original, Smoky Paprika, Salt & Black Pepper, Pickles. Lay's MAX Strong: Hot Chicken Wings, Chilli & Lime, Flamin' Hot. Lay's MAX Double Crunch: Spareribs, Red Sweet Chilli. Lay's Superchips Deep: American BBQ, Sweet Chilli. Lay's Iconic Local Flavors: Fries Mayo, Fries Andalouse. Lay's Oven Baked: Natural, Roasted Paprika, Mediterranean Herbs, Barbecue. Lay's Oven Baked Crispy Thins: Olive Oil & Herbs, Emmental Cheese. Lay's Oven Baked Crunchy Biscuits: Grilled Bacon, Tomato & Spring Onion, Paprika & Mediterranean Herbs. Lay's Sensations: Thai Sweet Chilli, Red Sweet Paprika, Mexican Peppers & Cream. Lay's Strong: Chilli and Lime, Hot Chicken Wings, Jalapeño and Cheese. Lay's Bugles: Nacho Cheese, Roasted Paprika, Sweet Chilli. Lay's Mama Mia's: Cheese & Paprika. Lay's Mixups: Natural, Paprika, Cheese. Lay's Wokkels: Paprika. Lay's Grills: Smoked. Lay's Stax: Original, Paprika. Lay's Sticks: Natural, Paprika. |
| Canada | Lay's: Roast Chicken, Bar-B-Q, Classic, Salt & Vinegar, Ketchup, All Dressed, Sour Cream & Onion, Dill Pickle, Cheddar Jalapeño, Sea Salt & Pepper, Smokey Bacon, Cream & Onion, Magic Masala, Chicken and Tomato, Cucumber. Lay's Wavy: Cheddar & Sour Cream, Original, Salt & Vinegar, Hickory BBQ. Lay's Poppables: Sea Salt, White Cheddar, Honey BBQ, Sour Cream & Chive, Sea Salt & Vinegar. Lay's Lighty Salted: Classic, Bar-B-Q, Original. Lay's Stax: Original, Salt & Vinegar, Cheddar, Bar-B-Q, Sour Cream & Onion. |
| China | Cool & Refreshing (Cucumber, Kiwi, Blueberry, Cherry Tomato, and Lime), Classic Flavors (American Classic, Italian Red Meat, Mexican Tomato Chicken, Texas Grilled BBQ, and French Chicken), Intense & Stimulating (Numb & Spicy Hot Pot, and Hot & Sour Fish Soup), and Stax (Authentic Original, Green Cucumber, Tomato, Sizzled Barbecue, Finger Licking Braised Pork, Black Pepper Rib Eye Steak, Sea Salt And Cheese, Sea Salt And Chocolate, Garden Tomato, Green Tea, and Lime). |
| Egypt | Since its acquisition of Chipsy (شيبسى, shortened to), Lay's chips (marketed as Chipsy) in Egypt inherited the Chipsy range of flavors as well as the pre-merger Lay's flavors. These flavors include Salt and Vinegar, Cheese (most likely based on Rumi cheese and the most popular flavor), seasoned cheese, Tomato (a Ketchup-based flavor), Charcoal-grilled Kebab, Chili & Lime, Peri peri flavor. Forno: French Cheese, Tomato & Za'atar. Crushed Black Pepper & Salt, Basil & Spices. Forno Fusion: Cumin & Lemon, Lebanese Mix, Mediterranean Greek mix, Sweet chili & Tangy Cheese. Playz (Discontinued) : Tomato & Black Pepper, Chicken & Herbs, Cheese & Chili. Flamin' Hot: Regular Flamin' Hot, Flamin' Hot with Lime. In 2010, a Shrimp flavor was added after a national contest. |
| France | Lay's: Nature, BBQ, Roast Chicken, Paprika, Mustard Pickles, Cheese & Onion, Bolognese, Emmental, Salt & Vinegar, Spicy, Ketchup, Cheeseburger, Sour Cream & Onion, Goat Cheese. Lay's MAX: Nature, BBQ, Chicken with Herbs, American Burger Sauce. Lay's 3D's: Nature. Lay's Old Fashioned: Nature, Country Ham, Old Fashioned Mustard. Lay's Country: Nature, Jura Cheese & Black Pepper, Caramelized Roscoff Onion & Fresh Cheese, Garonne & Fine Herbs. Lay's Mediterranean: Nature, Province Herbs. Lay's Fritelle: Nature, Emmental, Bacon. Lay's Mixups: Salted, Cheese & Ham, Cheese. Lay's Stax: Original, Barbecue, Sour Cream & Onion, Emmental. Lay's Oven Baked: Nature, Herbs. |
| Germany | Lay's are sold in several varieties: Herbal Butter, Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream & Black Pepper, Salted, Paprika, Sour Cream & Onion, Smoked Bacon, Sweet Paprika, Bugles (Nacho Cheese, Paprika, Original, Sour Cream & Black Pepper), Super Chips (Salt and Paprika), Light (Salted and Paprika), Iconic Restaurant Flavors (Pizza Hut Margherita, KFC Original Recipe, Subway Teriyaki) |
| Greece, Cyprus | Lay's are made and packed by Tasty Foods and Corina Snacks LTD, with Mediterranean flavors which include Feta cheese flavor, Tzatziki, Olive and Tomato, Oregano, Sea Salt & Black Pepper, Onion & Cheese, Prawn Cocktail, Salt, Salt & Vinegar, Barbeque and various more. There are hundreds of sub-variations in the Mediterranean line adjusted to each country's liking. |
| India | In India Lay's has the following flavors- American style onion and sour cream, India's magic masala, Spanish tomato tango, Classic Salted, West Indies' Hot 'N' Sweet Chilli, Chille Limón, Lay's Crispz herb and onion. Since 2015 under their Maxx label Maxx Sizzling barbeque and Maxx Macho chilli. In 2010 there was a competition in making new flavors and the flavor 'Mastana Mango' was selected, however this flavor is discontinued |
| Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Timor Leste | The flavors are Salmon Teriyaki, Classic Salty, Nori Seaweed, Pizza, Grilled Chicken Paprika, Duck's Tongue and Fiesta BBQ. It is produced by Indonesian-based PT Indofood Fritolay Makmur, a joint venture between PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur with Seven-Up Nederland B.V. |
| Mauritius | Lay's flavors consist of barbeque, salt and vinegar, roasted chicken, paprika, onion and cheese. |
| Mexico | The following Lay's (called Sabritas) are available nationally in Mexico: Original, Ruffles, Tostitos, Doritos, Cheetos, Pake-Taxo, Japoneses (peanuts), Cheetos Poffets, Rancheritos, Adobados, Frit-os, Churrumais, Caseras, Sabritones, Crujitos and Chicharrón Clásico. |
| Netherlands | Lay's: Natural, Paprika, Bolognese, BBQ Ham, Patatje Joppie, Cheese & Onion, Pickles. Lay's MAX Double Crunch: Spare Ribs, Red Sweet Chilli. Lay's MAX: Smoky Paprika, Original, Patatje Joppie, Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Salt & Black Pepper, Pickles, Cheddar & Onion. Lay's MAX Strong: Hot Chicken Wings, Chili & Lime, Flamin' Hot. Lay's Iconic Local Flavors: Chips Mayo, Fries Satay Sauce. Lay's Iconic Restaurant Flavors: KFC Original Recipe Chicken, Subway Teriyaki, Pizza Hut Margherita. Lay's Super Chips Deep: American BBQ, Sweet Chilli. Lay's Oven Baked: Natural, Roasted Paprika, Mediterranean Herbs, Barbecue. Lay's Oven Baked Crispy Thins: Emmental Cheese, Olive Oil & Herbs. Lay's Oven Baked Crunchy Biscuits: Tomato & Spring Onion, Paprika & Mediterranean Herbs. Lay's Sensations: Thai Sweet Chilli, Red Sweet Paprika, Mexican Peppers & Cream. Lay's Strong: Chilli and Lime, Hot Chicken Wings, Jalapeño and Cheese. Lay's Hamka's: Original. Lay's Bugles: Nacho Cheese, Roasted Paprika, Sweet Chilli. Lay's Mixups: Paprika, Natural, Cheese. Lay's Wokkels: Paprika, Natural. Lay's Grills: Smoked. Lay's Mama Mia's: Cheese & Paprika. Lay's Pomtips: Original. Lay's Light: Original, Paprika. Lay's Sticks: Natural, Paprika. |
| Pakistan | Lay's: Classic, French Cheese, Masala, Paprika, Yogurt & Herb. Lay's Wavy: Flamin' Hot, Mexican Chili, Texas BBQ, Black Salt. |
| Peru | Ruffles are a variant of the Lay's called "Lay's Ondas" (Lay's Waves). |
| Philippines, Thailand | Flavors featured are Classic, Sour Cream & Onion, Cheese & Onion, Mexican Bar-B-Q, Japanese Nori Seaweed, Basil, Squid, Spicy Chili Squid, Seafood and Mayonnaise, and Spicy Seafood. Temporary international flavors have also been introduced, such as French Mayonnaise, Balsamic Vinegar and Salt (England), Garlic Soft Shelled Crab (Hong Kong), Soy Sauce, Salmon Teriyaki (Japan), Lobster, Bacon & Cheese (America). Other traditional "Thai" flavors include Tom Yum, Thai Chili Paste, Thai Seafood Dip, Chili and Lime. |
| Poland | Lay's: Salted, Green Onion, Fromage, Paprika, Spicy Paprika. Lay's Wavy: Salted, Green Onion, Paprika. Lay's Strong: Chilli & Lime, Cheese & Jalapeno, Hot Pepperoni. Lay's MAXX: Paprika, Cheese & Onion, Oriental Salsa. Lay's Oven Baked: Salted, Grilled Paprika, Yoghurt with Herbs, Grilled Vegetables, Chanterelles in a Cream Sauce. Lay's Oven Baked Multigrain Crackers: Paprika with Herbs, Vegetables with Green Onion, Tomato with Basil. Lay's Bugles: Nacho Cheese, Paprika Style. Lay's Stix: Ketchup. Salt & Vinegar is also available at Żabka stores. |
| Romania | Lay's: Salt, Cheese, Wild Mushrooms & Sour Cream, Barbecue, Sour Cream & Dill, Paprika, Chicken, Onion, Barbeque beef ribs. Lay's MAXX: Paprika, Salt, Cheddar & Onion. Lay's Oven Baked: Yoghurt & Herbs, Salt, Paprika, Chanterelles Mushrooms, Aromatic Cheese. Lay's Wavy: Hot Piri-Piri, Salt, Cheese. |
| Russia | Lay's: Salt, Chives, Sour Cream and Herbs, Crab, Grilled Ribs, Bacon, Cheese, Red Caviar. Lay's Wavy: Salmon in Cream Sauce, Sour Cream and Onion, Paprika, Lobster. Lay's Oven Baked: Sour Cream and Aromatic Herbs, Chanterelles in Sour Cream, Delicate Cheese with Herbs. Lay's Stax: Spicy Paprika, Delicate Sour Cream and Onion, Fragrant Barbecue Ribs. Lay's Stix: Sour Cream and Onion, Ketchup. Lay's MAXX: 4 Cheese Pizza, BBQ Chicken Wings, Mushrooms in a Creamy Sauce. |
| Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries | It is available in several flavors, including Salt, Salt & Vinegar, Chilli, Chilli-Lemon, Ketchup, French cheese, Pizza, and Flaming Hot. Lay's Max is available in flavors: Chili, Cheese and Italian Blend. Lay's Forno, which has less fat by 60%, is available in six flavors: Authentic Cheese, Black Pepper, Lemon & Black Pepper, Labneh & Mint, Italian Mix (a spicy tomato flavor) and Za’atar. |
| United States | Lay's: Classic, Barbecue, Sour Cream & Onion, Cheddar & Sour Cream, Flamin' Hot, Salt & Vinegar, Cheddar Jalapeño, Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue, Honey Barbecue, Chile Limón, Limón, Dill Pickle, Flamin' Hot Dill Pickle, Chesapeake Bay Crab Spice, Adobada (imported from Sabritas in Mexico). Lay's Better For You: Lightly Salted Classic, Lightly Salted Barbecue, Kettle Cooked Reduced Fat Original, Wavy Lightly Salted, Simply Sea Salt Thick Cut, Simply Barbecue Thick Cut, Baked Barbecue, Baked Original. Lay's Dips: French Onion, Smooth Ranch. Lay's Kettle Cooked: Flamin' Hot, Original, Jalapeño, Mesquite BBQ, Sea Salt & Vinegar, Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper, Maui Onion, Reduced Fat Original. Lay's Layers: Three Cheese, Sour Cream & Onion. Lay's Poppables: Sea Salt, Sea Salt & Vinegar, White Cheddar, Honey BBQ. Lay's Stax: Original, Sour Cream & Onion, Mesquite BBQ, Cheddar, Salt & Vinegar, Bacon & Cheddar Potato Skins, Buffalo Wings with Ranch, XTRA Flamin' Hot. Lay's Wavy: Original, Reduced Fat, Funyuns Onion, Ranch, Hickory BBQ, Salt & Pepper, Lightly Salted. Lay's Variety Pack: Classic, Mix. |
| Vietnam | Lay's: Natural Classic, Brazil BBQ Pork Rib, Cheddar Cheese, Nori Seaweed, Texas Tenderloin Steak, Sour Cream & Onion, Thai Spicy Squid. Lay's Stax (Imported from Thailand): Original, Hot Chili Squid, Sour Cream & Onion, Spicy Lobster, BBQ. |