August 30, 2012

PLANO, Texas, Aug. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The saying "everything's bigger in Texas" will ring especially true on  October 1, as Fritos® brand corn chips celebrates its 80th anniversary in a big way – by setting out to achieve a world record for the biggest-ever Fritos Chili Pie®. A mixture of Fritos corn chips, chili and cheddar cheese, Fritos Chili Pie has long been one of America's favorite ways to enjoy Fritos corn chips, which is a flagship product within PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division. The Guinness World Records® title attempt will take place at the State Fair of Texas®, the biggest fair in the U.S.

"For 80 years, Fritos corn chips have been an important piece of Americana," said Tony Matta, vice president, marketing, Frito-Lay. "Our Guinness World Records® title attempt will not only add a new milestone to our proud history, it will also serve as a hearty celebration for this timeless snack."

Starting at 10 a.m. CDT on October 1, State Fair of Texas® attendees can join the fun as the over-sized Fritos Chili Pie is constructed in Big Tex Circle at the footsteps of famed fair mascot Big Tex himself. If a Guinness World Record® title is set, an official adjudicator will verify the accomplishment and the tasty "pie," along with a variety of Pepsi beverages, will be shared with fairgoers eager to sample the record-breaking treat.

Fritos invites fans across America to also join the 80th anniversary celebration by helping an important cause. The brand is proudly partnering with Hormel® Chili, the No.1 brand of chili in America, to support our troops through Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP). From September 16 through October 13, consumers can look for special displays at local retailers featuring a $1-off coupon for combined purchase of Fritos corn chips and Hormel® Chili. For every coupon redeemed, Fritos and Hormel Foods will donate $1 to WWP, up to $100,000, to honor and empower wounded warriors in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Fritos brand was born in 1932 when Elmer Doolin purchased a corn chips recipe from a local businessman and began making the first Fritos chips right from his mother's kitchen with a converted potato ricer. The popularity of the snack catapulted in 1961 when he joined forces with H.W. Lay & Company to create Frito-Lay, Inc. Doolin's mother, Daisy Dean Doolin, created recipes to help market Fritos corn chips by using them as an ingredient in a wide range of dishes, including her now-famous Fritos Chili Pie. Once a dish favored in small hometowns, Fritos Chili Pie is now served coast to coast, where fans from New York to Los Angeles relish it.

About Fritos
Frito-Lay North America is the $13 billion convenient foods business unit of PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate website, http://www.fritolay.com, the Fritos Pie Remix website, http://www.fritospieremix.com, the Snack Chat blog, http://www.snacks.com and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/fritolay.  

About Hormel Foods
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring branded, value-added products to the global marketplace. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, Maplecroft Climate Innovation Indexes, Global 1000 Sustainable Performance Leaders and was again named one of "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" by Corporate Responsibility Magazine in 2011. The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers, foodservice and industrial customers for products highly regarded for quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value. For more information, visit http://www.hormelfoods.com.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment by conserving energy and water and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

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SOURCE Frito-Lay