How A Frito-Lay Janitor Invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos
Did you know that Flamin' Hot Cheetos were invented by a Frito-Lay janitor? In 1976, Richard Montañez landed a janitor job at Frito-Lay, earning $4 an hour. His curiosity and dedication led him to learn about the company's operations. In the mid-1980s, when Frito-Lay was struggling, CEO Roger Enrico encouraged employees to "act like an owner." Richard saw an opportunity and pitched his idea for a spicy snack inspired by Mexican street corn.
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