Lay's Unveils Finalists in 'Do Us a Flavor' Contest

PLANO, Texas – Lay's potato chips announced the four finalist flavors in its "Do Us A Flavor" contest this week: Lay's Cappuccino, Lay's Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese, Lay's Kettle Cooked Wasabi Ginger and Lay's Wavy Mango Salsa. The new flavors will debut on store shelves this month, and consumer votes will determine which flavor wins a $1-million grand prize.

The finalists were selected from more than 14 million entries submitted to the contest between January 13 and April 5. Culinary experts from PepsiCo Inc.'s Frito-Lay division developed the top four for consumer purchase.

From July 28 through Oct. 18, 2014, consumers can vote once a day for their favorite finalist flavor at www.DoUsAFlavor.com; via Twitter, Instagram and/or Vine using the hashtags #SaveCappuccino, #SaveBaconMac, #SaveWasabi or #SaveMango; and via text message by texting "Cappuccino," "Bacon Mac," "Wasabi" or "Mango" to 24477 (CHIPS).

The winning flavor will be revealed in November and remain on store shelves following the end of the contest.

"For just the second time in history, we asked fans across the U.S. to tell us what flavors they thought would be 'yummy as a chip,' and the response blew us away," said Ram Krishnan, senior vice president of marketing, Frito-Lay North America. "The number and range of flavor ideas shared, the level of engagement our fans had with the program and the anticipation that has been mounting over the last several weeks as we prepared to name our finalists have demonstrated once again the incredible passion and excitement our fans have for great potato chip flavors. We can't wait to see which flavor America selects as its favorite."

The finalist flavors came from Chad Scott of Las Vegas, who submitted Cappuccino; Matt Allen from Troy, Ohio, who submitted Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese; Meneko Spigner McBeth from Deptford, N.J., who submitted Wasabi Ginger; and Julia Stanley-Metz from Sacramento, Calif., who submitted Mango Salsa. All four submitters joined Lay's in New York this week to officially unveil the final flavors and distribute the first free samples from a 24-foot all-electric Frito-Lay delivery truck.

PepsiCo first held the "Do Us A Flavor" contest in 2012, when fans ultimately selected Lay's Cheesy Garlic Bread as the winner.