Lay's

Lay's is an American brand of potato chips and related snack foods owned by Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo.

Lay's is an American brand of potato chips and related snack foods owned by Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo. The brand was founded by Herman W. Lay in the 1930s and has grown into a widely sold snack brand in North America and many other countries.

History

Lay's traces its origins to Herman W. Lay's snack business in the early 1930s. Lay's began in 1932 when Herman W. Lay started selling potato chips in Nashville, Tennessee. Lay later acquired the manufacturer and formed H.W. Lay & Company in 1939. The company adopted the Lay's name in 1944. Lay's merged with the Frito Company in 1961 to form Frito-Lay. Frito-Lay became a wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo in 1965.

Products and branding

The brand is best known for potato chips, though it also includes related snack foods. In some markets, Lay's products are sold under different names such as Walkers, Smith's, and others.

Corporate ownership

Lay's is operated through Frito-Lay, which is part of PepsiCo. This ownership structure has connected the brand to one of the world's largest food and beverage companies.

Global presence

Lay's is sold in North America and many other international markets. The brand has adapted its naming and flavour offerings to local markets around the world.