Lay's Potato Chips

Lay's is a world-renowned brand of potato chips that traces its roots back to 1932, when salesman Herman Lay began selling snack foods from the trunk of his car in Nashville, Tennessee. By 1939, he acquired the Barrett Food Company, establishing H.W. Lay & Company. The brand became a household name through aggressive marketing and became the first snack food company to purchase television commercials. In 1961, the company merged with its competitor, the Frito Company, to form Frito-Lay, Inc., which later merged with the Pepsi-Cola Company in 1965 to create PepsiCo.

Today, Lay's is manufactured in dozens of facilities worldwide to satisfy local markets and ensure product freshness. In North America, the chips are produced in over 30 facilities across the United States and Canada using potatoes sourced from hundreds of local farms. Internationally, manufacturing occurs in numerous countries including Mexico, India, Pakistan, and throughout Europe. Interestingly, the brand often operates under different names globally, such as Walkers in the UK and Ireland, Sabritas in Mexico, and Smith's in Australia, though the iconic yellow sun logo remains a consistent visual anchor.

As of 2026, Lay's remains a core pillar of PepsiCo's global snack portfolio. The company continues to innovate through regional flavors and sustainable 'Positive Agriculture' initiatives, ensuring its position as the ultimate leader in the savory snack industry.