Lay's Potato Chips

Lay's is one of the world's most iconic snack brands, with a history dating back to 1932 when salesman Herman Lay began selling potato chips from the trunk of his car in Nashville, Tennessee. By 1938, he had acquired the Barrett Food Company, establishing the H.W. Lay Lingo & Company. The brand reached a pivotal milestone in 1961 when it merged with the Frito Company to form Frito-Lay, Inc., which subsequently merged with Pepsi-Cola in 1965 to create the global giant PepsiCo.

Today, Lay's is produced in multiple countries across nearly every continent to ensure freshness and support local agriculture. The company sources billions of pounds of potatoes annually from local farmers near its manufacturing facilities. While the brand is known globally as Lay's, it operates under several local names due to historical acquisitions, such as Walkers in the UK and Ireland, Smith's in Australia, and Sabritas in Mexico. As of 2026, the brand continues to lead the global snack market through PepsiCo’s extensive distribution network and constant flavor innovation.