PepsiCo’s Lay’s potato chip brand will be running yet another flavour challenge in the US, starting next month. The new “Flavor Swap” program will see Lay’s fans asked to vote for four classic flavours or four new chip flavours.
From February 8, fans can vote for their favourite flavour in each of the four “Flavor Swap” pairings, and enter a $1,000 daily prize draw. One lucky fan will win a $250,000 cash prize for simply placing his or her vote.
Consumers can visit FlavorSwap.com to select their favourite flavour in each of the four categories:
- Heat: Lay’s Flamin’ Hot vs. all-new Lay’s Fiery Roasted Habanero;
- Cheese: Lay’s Cheddar & Sour Cream vs. all-new Lay’s Smoked Gouda & Chive;
- Barbecue: Lay’s Honey Barbecue vs. all-new Lay’s Korean Barbecue;
- Spice: Lay’s Kettle Cooked Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper vs. all-new Lay’s Kettle Cooked Olive Oil & Herbs.
The rise of flavour exploration is the insight behind the latest campaign, according to Jennifer Saenz, vice president of marketing and innovation at Frito-Lay. She says that the top flavour trends for 2016 will focus on spices, cheese, and herbs. Spices from all around the world continue to grow in popularity in American dishes and flavours. American staples will get an extra notch of flavour through the rising popularity of specialty cheeses like gouda and gorgonzola. The big twist on herbs next year will be using floral flavors, such as hibiscus, elderflower and lavender.
“Our fans keep us on the pulse of flavor exploration. ‘Do Us A Flavor’ showed us consumers want to be surprised with new and unconventional flavors – but we also recognize they love the tried and true classic Lay’s flavors,” says Saenz. “That’s why we’re asking them what to keep and what to lose.”
Ram Krishnan, chief marketing officer for Frito-Lay, PepsiCo’s savoury snacks subsidiary, which makes Lay’s, observes: “Over the last three years, the iconic Lay’s ‘Do Us a Flavor’ contest asked fans to submit their ideas for the next great potato chip flavor. Past winning flavors, including Lay’s Cheesy Garlic Bread, Lay’s Kettle Cooked Wasabi Ginger, and Lay’s Southern Biscuits and Gravy prove that Americans are on the hunt for unexpected and unique flavors. While ‘Do Us a Flavor’ spotlighted fans who wanted to create the next great potato chip flavor, ‘Flavor Swap’ celebrates fans who simply enjoy flavor and want to have a say.”
Lay’s is the American equivalent brand to the UK’s Walkers; both have run a variety of flavour challenge promotional campaigns over the past decade, including Do Us A Flavour/Flavor.
