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Buck_Thorn t1_jad5doa wrote

No paywall here: https://archive.ph/Jk92M

Also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Monta%C3%B1ez

> According to his account, when a Cheetos machine broke down, Montañez took home a batch of unflavored snacks and seasoned them with spices reminiscent of Mexican street corn.[4][3] He pitched this idea to then-CEO Roger Enrico over the phone and was invited to deliver an in-person presentation, which he prepared for by researching marketing at the public library.[4][3] He presented the product as appealing to the growing Latino market, and provided samples in plastic bags that he had hand-decorated and sealed. It was soft-launched six months later to a test market in Los Angeles, and approved for national release in 1992.[5] Newsweek reported that the flavor, since expanded to a full product line, "rejuvenated the brand" and garnered billions in revenue.[4]

> In 2021, a Los Angeles Times article disputed Montañez's claim, reporting that based on an internal investigation at Frito-Lay, he was not involved in creating this product line. A spokesperson for Frito-Lay stated, "we value Richard's many contributions to our company, especially his insights into Hispanic consumers, but we do not credit the creation of Flamin' Hot Cheetos or any Flamin' Hot products to him." According to the article, however, Montañez did in fact rise from a floor-level position to a marketing executive at Frito-Lay, and he was involved in pitching new products.[1]

Another source: Frito-Lay disputes former janitor's claim he invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos

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PacifistWarlord t1_jadrdi9 wrote

Or he did and frito lay is smart enough not to give him credit. They don’t have any incentive to give him the credit for making it

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HPmoni t1_jadw0vh wrote

He became an executive at the company. There were Mexican snacks that predate them.

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misogichan t1_jae4ovl wrote

I don't really see the incentive for them to lie. They did the internal investigation because Lynne Greenfield, who was part of the team who created flaming hot cheetos, complained about the lies used to sell a motivational speaking career.

Also, Montañez has never tried to claim damages in court over them taking idea. Instead he was turning it into a motivational speaking career and two books.

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Reefer-eyed_Beans t1_jae458s wrote

How is that "smart"..? What incentive do they have to not give him credit? He was indisputably their employee and it's been their product for over 30yrs now.

Some people obviously had to have made it... "Evil Faceless Chip Co." doesn't just churn out shit by magic and burn all traces of human involvement.

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GI_X_JACK t1_jaewypj wrote

Yeah, its a much better story then some faceless exec with a newly minted MBA.

Fits a lot of checkmarks that make good PR.

Minority

Rags to Riches

Linkedin tier hustle and win story

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DaveOJ12 t1_jadwu2m wrote

I find it easier to believe that the guy is lying.

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amadeus2490 t1_jaei4o3 wrote

"Here's a detailed story of how I accomplished this."

Counter-point: "Nuh-uh."

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esgrove2 t1_jaf00sf wrote

Yeah. Like the guy that invented Doritos Locos Tacos for Taco Bell. They gave him full credit. No money, but full credit. He died of brain cancer and Taco Bell donated only $1,000 to his cancer fund.

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ItsCowboyHeyHey t1_jaeko0w wrote

Exactly. “We do not credit him” does not mean he didn’t invent them.

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SpareAccountNo1 t1_jaf06u8 wrote

Read the article--he didn't invent them. His story doesn't add up.

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Ineedtwocats t1_jadx9tj wrote

a giant faceless megacorp would never lie, right?!

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Hambredd t1_jae3ni3 wrote

Except the company has actual proof.

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