Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
Interesting

America Reject Cappuccino-flavoured Potato Chips, Greenlights Wasabi Ginger

Darpan News Desk Darpan, 21 Oct, 2014 11:58 AM
    NEW YORK - America has rejected the idea of cappuccino-flavoured Lay's potato chips.
     
    Frito-Lay says Wasabi Ginger won its contest that gives people a chance to create a new flavour, beating out the coffee-flavoured chips and the two other finalists — Mango Salsa and Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese. Parent company PepsiCo Inc. says about 1 million total votes were cast online for the Do Us A Flavor promotion, a sales driver it has launched in more than a dozen countries.
     
    In the U.S., bags of the four finalist flavours hit shelves in late July and people were able to vote on Facebook and Twitter for their favourites through this past weekend. It was the second year for the U.S. contest, which is designed to send customers to stores in search of the flavours. Last year's winner, Cheesy Garlic Bread, is still on shelves.
     
    The winner, Meneko Spigner McBeth, was informed at a dinner for finalists Monday night in New York City. McBeth, a registered nurse from Deptford, New Jersey, will get $1 million or a set percentage of a year in sales, whichever figure is larger.
     
    Ram Krishnan, Frito-Lay's chief marketing officer, said this year's winner is evidence Americans want more ethnic flavours, even though the top four Lay's flavours remain Original, Barbecue, Cheddar & Sour Cream and Sour Cream & Onion. He said he couldn't have imagined Lay's selling a Wasabi Ginger flavour when he joined the company eight years ago.
     
    "We're kind of getting into a new flavour territory," Krishnan said. "When I went to school, Mexican food was exotic."
     
    As for the cappuccino flavour — which was described as "NASTY" and "gross" in some comments on Lay's Facebook page — Krishnan defended its performance, although he wouldn't say how many votes it got.
     
    "The fact that it made it out of our selection process to make it to the final four is no small feat," he said.
     
    The contest began in the United Kingdom, where Frito-Lay sells chips under the Walkers brand. Since then, it was launched in 14 countries before coming to the U.S. last year. Winning flavours in other countries include Pizza in Saudi Arabia, Shrimp in Egypt, Sunday Roast in New Zealand, Pickled Cucumber in Serbia and Aline's Caesar Salad in Australia.
     
    Given its success, Krishnan said the company is looking to launch the contest in other countries as well.
     
    Krishnan wouldn't specify how much of a sales lift the contest provides. But in the latest quarter that ended Sept. 6, PepsiCo, based in Purchase, New York, said revenue for its Frito-Lay North America division rose 3 per cent, reflecting a 2 per cent gain in volume and 1 per cent gain from higher prices.

    MORE Interesting ARTICLES

    Can your dog win your true love?

    Can your dog win your true love?
    You may take your dog for morning walks or to a vet when it feels sick but your canine may not get the kind of love you shower on your kid, found a small yet significant study....

    Can your dog win your true love?

    Even fruit flies can help spot bombs and drugs

    Even fruit flies can help spot bombs and drugs
    The "nose" of fruit flies can identify odours emanating from illicit drugs and explosive substances almost as accurately as wine odour, says a study....

    Even fruit flies can help spot bombs and drugs

    Teens from rich nations better realise their science dream

    Teens from rich nations better realise their science dream
    Children interested in science are able to turn their interest into actual scientific knowledge to a greater extent when raised in wealthy countries, a study has found....

    Teens from rich nations better realise their science dream

    Yale researchers lay down strategies to reduce porn use

    Yale researchers lay down strategies to reduce porn use
    The study used an online questionnaire to garner information from 1,298 male pornography users. The goal was to see what happens when pornography....

    Yale researchers lay down strategies to reduce porn use

    Video Of Bikini-clad Woman Taking Selfie Goes Viral

    Video Of Bikini-clad Woman Taking Selfie Goes Viral
     A secretly taken video of a bikini-clad woman spending more than a minute to get a perfect selfie has gone viral on YouTube, securing as many as 1.6 million hits so far.

    Video Of Bikini-clad Woman Taking Selfie Goes Viral

    Plumpest pumpkin: 2,058-pound gourd sets record at Northern California competition

    Plumpest pumpkin: 2,058-pound gourd sets record at Northern California competition
    HALF MOON BAY, Calif. - A gourd weighing 2,058 pounds took first prize and set a new tournament record Monday at an annual pumpkin-weighing contest in Northern California.

    Plumpest pumpkin: 2,058-pound gourd sets record at Northern California competition