Fritos began as a corn chip created by Elmer Doolin in 1932.
Elmer Doolin bought the recipe and production equipment for a fried corn snack in San Antonio, Texas, and developed the product into Fritos. The name comes from the Spanish word “frito,” meaning fried. Doolin’s company expanded production and distribution, helping turn the snack into a nationally recognized American brand.
Fritos later became part of PepsiCo’s snack portfolio through the history of Frito-Lay. The brand is best known for its simple corn flavor and distinctive curved chips, and it has been used in products such as Fritos corn chips and Frito pies.
The answer is commonly confused with Doritos and Cheetos because all are major PepsiCo snack brands. Doritos originated as a seasoned tortilla chip, while Cheetos are cheese-flavored corn snacks. Neither was Elmer Doolin’s 1932 corn-chip creation.