The Baked Lays Addict Page

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Countless crunchers have visited this page!

We have a winner in the “Why I deserve a Free Bag of Baked Lays” Contest! View the best entries and the winning entry!

Read the Article!
See the Addiction!
Meet the Addicts!
Confess Your Addiction!

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Baked Lays: The Chip that Roared

by Joel “I can never eat just one” Comm

It’s crunchy. It’s salty. It’s not fattening. It’s not immoral or illegal either. It’s the biggest thing since potato chips. Well, I guess that’s not totally true. After all, it IS a potato chip.

Since Frito-Lay introduced Baked Lays at the start of 1996, they have created a wave of loyal followers that are sweeping the nation. From coast to coast, grocers are having a hard time keeping bags on the shelf. In fact, as a recent Baked Lays convert, I attempted to track down one single bag at five, count ‘em, five local grocery stores. Merely turning the corner into the chip aisle revealed a large empty row on the shelf. There were no Baked Lays! Disappointed, dejected, and craving the taste of this low-fat treat, I considered purchasing another chip. But the thought was brief, as I knew nothing else would satisfy my urge.

Even now, I long for that wonderful feel of a unbroken chip, in it’s ‘potato’ shape. I wish for the satisfying crunch as the delectible snack is met by my teeth. And I dream of finishing a bag, only to find a dozen more in my pantry. I’ve got to snap out of it! But I, like many Americans, have found a new taste. And we want our Baked Lays!

So what’s with the hysteria? Why is America going bananas over a potato chip? There are plenty of chips on the market, and many claiming to have lower fat content. And there are plenty of snack foods with no fat in them at all. Apparantly, Frito-Lay has tapped into a snack food that is not only low fat, but lives up to its promises of great taste.

Traditional potato chips have 10 grams of fat per ounce. Baked Lays have 1.5 grams of fat. So let me get this straight. I can eat 10 traditional chips or a whole bag of Baked Lays? Ummm, let me think. Duh. Needless to say, other chip companies are going to be jumping on the low-fat baked chip alternative rapidly. I’d say you can expect to see Baked Pringles and Baked Ruffles on the shelf soon.

When did this all start? Frito-Lay actually began test-marketing the chip in 1994, and brought the chip into several markets in summer of 1995. However, the big national launch was concentrated on New Years Day. Frito-lay aired commercials featuring supermodels Vendela, Cathy Ireland, and Naomi Campbell. The three barbies proceeded to munch Baked Lays noting, “You can eat like one of the guys and still look like one of the girls.” Yeah, right.

Anyway, the commercial did place Baked Lays in the mind of the consumer, and it didn’t take long for the word to spread. Lynn Markley, Frito-Lay spokeswoman, said “No one was aware of Baked Lay’s until we started advertising. Since then, it’s been a feeding frenzy.”

The bigwigs at Frito-Lay are estimating that 1996 sales of Baked Lays could top $300 million. That would make it the best-selling snack in the history of the company. They are making 2.5 million bags a week. And it’s not enough.

The company is receiving thousands of calls from consumers. Many are praising the chip. Some have questions. but most just want to know where they can find some. There is even a story about a Connecticut state trooper who pulled over a Frito-Lay route driver, seeking Baked Lays. (Wonder if his Seargent has heard about THIS one!)

To ramp production up further, Frito-Lay is building a fifth Baked Lay’s production line at it’s facility in Aberdeen, Maryland. It should be complete in April 1996, and will put them out $20 million. Pocket change for a product that is destined to go down in snack history.

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Here’s the skinny on these low-fat wonders:

Baked Lays are available in original and barbecue flavor. I’d have to say I prefer the original, though the barbecue will do in a pinch.

Nutritionals:

Serving Size – 1 ounce (yeah, right… like 11 chips are gonna be enough…)

Fat – 1.5 gm (yahoo!)
Calories – 110 (who counts calories anymore?)
Cholesterol – 0 mg
Carbohydrates – 23 gm
Sodium – 150 mg (everything has a catch)
Protein – 2 gm

Pricing:

$.69 per 1.8 oz. bag

$1.99 per 5 oz. bag
$3.19 per 10 oz. bag
$4.29 per 14 oz. bag (ouch!)

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A Day in the Life of a Baked Lays Addict

For the Baked Lays addict, nothing could be worse than a day without a fresh potato crisp. The addiction has spread so far and wide, that new Baked Lays Anonymous groups are beginning to spring up all over the world. This national obsession has caused many to think that Frito-Lay should be opening rehab centers for those whose lives have been destroyed by this addiction.

But how does this addiction start?

The first bag of Baked Lays is always greeted with a warm fuzzy feeling. “Sure I’ll try them! They look good… and did you say low-fat?” This unsuspecting victim is about to embark on a lifetime of Baked Lays mania…

A quick peak inside the bag reveals two things. First, there aren’t nearly as many chips in there as you would think. But that thought won’t matter much in about 10 seconds, cause our victim has caught sight of this new snack, and is preparing to taste one.

Carefully eyeing one perfectly formed chip, he prepares to munch, not realizing what he has gotten himself into.

CRUNCH! Too late! The new customer has just become a Baked Lays addict. All his concentration is focused on stuffing chips into his mouth. Munching and crunching and eating and munching and crunching and eating and munching and… until…

“What do you MEAN the bag is empty already!?!?!” Yes, another completely sane human being has had his brains turn to mush. His heart starts to palpitate. His palms become sweaty. He tosses and turns at nights. He paces the floors hoping a Frito Lay delivery man will drive by. He is on a first name basis with every grocer in town. He pleads with them daily, “Are they coming in today?!?!” Soon, he finds that his work begins to suffer, he forgets what his family looks like, and even his dog won’t look at him. All he can think of is where his next potato fix is coming from. Yes, my friend, you NEED your Baked Lays!

Alas… a 25 mile drive to a quick-mart out in the boonies has turned up some bags of Baked Lays. Our addict peacefully settles down to burn through a bag… or maybe both of them. After all, they will make more. Won’t they? Huh? WON’T THEY?!?!

What you have just seen is a true story. Only the words have been changed to protect it’s integrity. No potato chips were hurt in the creation of this story.

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Comments from Readers

Wow! Have we gotten lots of mail from you folks! Here are excerpts from some of the letters we’ve received related to Baked Lays.

“I LOVE these chips but I can never find them. I realy like the plain ones becauase they taste like pringles but they are low in fat.YUMM!!!!! Please stock more on the shelves of grocery stores, and drug stores. I look all over and cant get them I crave them and its very disappointing when I can’t get them.”

Editor’s Note: We KNOW the feeling!

“While I will confess that baked lays are great tasting chips and are impressive due to their low fat content, BUT $3.19 for 10oz??? I’ll take the fat and hit the gym an extra time a month at those prices!”

“I too am a Baked Lay Addict, and being the president of a company and spending alot of time on the phone, I suffer all day. I hear the voice of the person I want that big deal with, but that bag of Bar-B-Que Baked Lays is right in front of me. I break into a sweat, I stare at the bag and know this is the longest phone call of my life. Baked Lays surround my computer, my desk, my nightstand. Will it ever end? ( Oh no, what if they do Ranch flavor?!)”

“I’ve seen Baked Lay’s in the grocery stores, but haven’t thought about buying a bag. You see, I’m one of those people who can’t eat just a few chips. Dorito’s, Lay’s potato chips, Cheese Doodles, Fritos- I’ll pack them in until I almost feel sick! Now that I’ve gotten the run-down on Baked Lay’s, I’ll definitely buy a bag next time I’m in the store; that is if there are any left!”

“Actually, I think they’re tasteless, and remind me of eating paper. Sorry. I love potato chips, but these are the worst I’ve ever tasted. I’m not kidding! I’ve tried the barbecue flavor and the baked tortilla chips — Yuck! Sorry!”

Editor’s Note: Obviously, this person was eating the bag and not the chips…

“I think that the new baked lays are the best chip on the market. However, we have a problem finding the BBQ flavor here in Memphis. Could you please let the distributors here know
that they are developing a loyal following. We look forward to
the next installment of Frito-Lays reduced fat snacks. We can
always depend on them to help keep us healthy.”

“Hey! Baked Lays don’t taste so great, and what’s more, they have only TWENTY PERCENT of the vitamin C contained in ordinary Lay’s potato chips. “

Editor’s Note: So WHO eats potato chips for Vitamin C? Pack down a 10 ounce bag of these suckers and go grab an orange.

“Hello, My name is Paul and I am a baked addict. I have to have a new full bag each and every day. I can’t live without the crunchy, salty sweetness.”

Editor’s Note: Perhaps we could start a chapter of Baked Lays Anonymous?

“I am addicted to Lay’s Low Fat Chips! There, I just admitted my addiction. Does this make me a bad person? Anyway, my big gripe about Lay’s Lowfat chips is that I can never find them in the supermarket. Recently, the local supermarkets have been running a sale ($.79) on regular Lay’s chips and have cleaned out the supply of the low fat chips. My suspicion is that the supermarkets do not want to infuriate shoppers who think they can get the low fat chips for the discount price. Thus, the low fat chip lovers must suffer. Down the road I suspect that there will be support groups for low fat chip lovers!”

Editor’s Note: This is all we’re saying…

“I have been on a No-Fat diet now for just a bit over a year. It seem my arteries were all clogged up and I need a 4 way heart bypass. Believe me, that will make you more than just a little bit aware of the fat content of all food. Baked Lays Chips are the only snack food that I allow myself and they are great! They were really tough to find on the store shelves until I went to the Food Lion store manager and found out the delivery schedule. Now we adjust our weekly shopping day to meet the Frit-o-Lay truck when it arrives on Thursday morning here in Bethany Beach,Delaware. “

“Happened on to Frito’s Baked Chips a couple of months ago, while looking for something different. I thought they were great! So great, in fact, that I was throwing two or three bags in my shopping cart each week. I’d have thrown in more to stock up, had I known that very soon they would be gone from the shelves at my local Albertson’s market. Now I just remember how good they used to taste.”

“I too am a baked lays lover! I too get angry and hostile when I can’t
find them at the store. I too will go from store to store searching for
a bag to get my fix. Frito Lay needs to do mass production, 24/7 to keep
up with the demand. As far as the price goes, who cares? A
good-tasting, low fat potato chip? I’d pay $10.00 for a bag! Keep up
the inovations Frito Lay!!!!”

“I’m a Transport Driver for Frito Lay…. I have appox. 2500 cases of Baked Lays on my truck daily… Fresh, right out of the plant in Frankfort, IN… You would think that a 45,000# 70foot long truck would be a pretty safe vehicle to carry these in. But I barely get by the impromptu to road blocks that materialize in front of me by these addicts.. Please take it easy on me, we’re making them as fast as we can… “Name withheld to protect my family from becoming the objects of Baked Lays ransom”"

Editor’s Note: Yes, but we know your name and email address. We’ll start the bidding at $100.

“I have seen and eaten more Baked Lays than anyone around. I am a DSD Receiver for Kroger’s Food Chain. I check in and authorize every bag of Baked Lays that arives. We keep them on the shelves for at least 6 hours. My assistant is also a Baked Lays fan. She has went so far as take a hammer after the delivery man to get them in the store faster. This is no joking matter…After the recent buy of Eagle’s Plants but not the chip line Frito will be making more and more Baked Lays in pretty soon fashion all these plants will be used to produce the Baked Lays”

“Sorry, I can’t write much. I need my fingers to get more baked chips out of my bag. Send some quick. I’m running out. Only 352648 bags left.”

“My wife and I went out last Friday to rent a video and pick up some baked lays. First we went and picked up a movie, that was the easy part (since I always give in and let her pick the movie) then we went to the local supermarket, they were all out of Baked LAYS, so we went to another, then another and so on it went, some stores had signs up that said ” sorry all out of Baked Lays” All in all we went to 7
supermarkets and every party store we could find, by the end of the
night we could not find any Baked Lays and to make matters worse by
the time we got home it was to late to watch the movie, but who wants
to watch a movie if you can’t enjoy the greatest chip ever made! Now
when we see Baked Lays in the stores we buy them ALL up. “

“I confess I am addicted to Baked Lays. I have done many outrageous things in my quest to get my hands on one bag of that wonderful baked taste. In fact just yesterday I had a craving for them so I took off around the city, searching everystore, but no one had them. Why didn’t they have them?! WHY!!! WHY!!!!! I eventually saw a bag through the window of a store in Harlem, which is 8 hours from my house. In pure joy I ran into the store only to find that some punk kid had taken the last bag. The clerk said he bought it, but I knew better, come on, he was a teen ager… They all steal and commit crimes. Haven’t you read the papers or seen Hard Copy? Anyway, I felt that anyone giving Baked Lays a bad name should be punished, so I did. I was mad with rage, I couldn’t control myself, I picked up a rock and, and… In the end I had a good bag of Baked Lays all to myself and I now live in Cuba….”

“I wanna snack. Boy do I ever wanna snack I want something bursting with flavor that will really satisfy me. Yet, I don’t want the fat. Potato chips would do, but there’s so much.. What! Baked Lays have only 1/5 the fat? That can’t be. Bring them on. I wanna snack! Could you also bake me a milk shake please.”

Editor’s Note: Now THERE is an idea!

“After a two week search, one Sunday night excursion to K-Mart became the highlight of my week as I walked around the corner of the quiet chip aisle and spied two, yes two bags of Baked Lay’s. I shrieked and ran to them, disbelieving. My boyfriend promptly disowned me from embarassment. Upon hitting the internet, with my open bag of Crisps by my side, I discovered that I’m not the only crazy one. Thanks for a great product and a fun web page! Signed – Love Those Lay’s in Toledo”

Editor’s Note: It’s a labor of love…

“Yes, I too am a Baked Lays addict. So much so that when I was
visiting my Mom in Escondido, CA we went the 5, yes 5 grocery CHAINS
for Baked Lays. I would ask the clerks and the Manager if they
carried Baked Lays and they looked at me like I have 5 heads. I
thought California had everything, everything but Baked Lays. The
first thing I did when I came home was grocery shop. Baked Lays was
the first item in my cart.”

“Well, I can say that I have been searching and searching…with no luck! There are no Baked Lays to be found anywhere in the Western Hemisphere! This reminds me of when Snackwells introduced their Devils Food Cookies. It took me almost a year to find them regularly in the supermarkets. Oh well, I guess I’ll keep trying”

“I must tell you, these chips are great!! In our work place we have 10 employees and 8 of us are women. We are always on the look out from great tasting food that is not fattening. We have found what we have been looking for in Baked Lays Potato Chips. I must tell the story of the Lays delivery man that delivers to all the grocery stores in our area. When we first discovered the chip we could not get enough. We would watch for the Lays delivery guy on Mondays. As soon as we saw him in town, one of us would go to each store that he delivered to and buy up all the bags he had left at each store. When it was all said and done, there were no more chips left in the small town of Buffalo.”

Editor’s Note: I’ll bet that delivery man LOVES you girls…

And we have received so many more comments, there just isn’t room to print them all!

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Confess Your Addiction

We want to hear from you about Baked Lays! What was your first experience like? Have you been able to find any? Are you addicted? Send email to Frito Lay!

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The Baked Lays Contest

Needless to say, we received hundreds of entries from people who thought they deserved a free bag of Baked Lays. Some of the entries were boring and unoriginal. Others had a great deal of creativity. It was obvious that there are some desperate Baked Lays addicts out there! Following are some of the better entries we received…

Baked lays are the best
They are better than the rest
I need baked lays every day

And it’s even better if I don’t have to pay!!
Low fat chips are really in
You don’t feel that they’re a sin
They taste great, that’s no doubt
About baked lays we all should shout!!!

I am an individual. As such I need nurturing and support. A bag of Baked
Lays has been empirically proven to bolster self-esteem and heal the soul.
I need the Baked Lays to reach my full potential.

I’m getting married soon and I want to be able to hide them in my purse
before the wedding, so when I get hungry and I’m craving that baked chip
taste, there they will be! I also feel that they are such a part of my
life we should have them available for the wedding day pictures.

I got one free bag (small 10 chip bag) at a University of Cincinnati
basketball game and now I.m hooked. I love’em. One problem, I can’t
find them anywhere. The grocery has low fat, 1/3 less fat, low salt,
regular, BBQ, Salt and Vinegar, Sour Cream & Onion, Ranch… Well you
get my point. NO BAKED LAYS! Then I thought, I can get them out of the
vending machine at work. There was sure to be Baked Lays in that
machine. Wrong! I have left notes, letters and cards on the machine
begging the snack guy to stock the machine with Baked Lays. His response
“We ain’t got’em”. Foiled again. I’m beginning to think this is the
only way I’ll be able to eat that wonderful chip again. All of this
after only 10 chips. Think how great my life will be, how happy I will
be if only I can win a bag of Baked Lays. The sun will shine bright,
peace on earth, cats and dogs live together (I stole that line), all will
be right with the world. Work with me here. I need these Lays.

As I finished my workout at the gym, I ran by the store on my way home to
get something healthy to eat. On the shelf was just one bag of the baked
lays. My stomach screamed out for them, as I ran towards them. Right
when I was about to get them, I saw this elderly lady starting to cry as
I grabbed that last bag. I told her that I would split it with her. As i
got out to my car, I opened up the bag and poured half out into another
bag for her. I felt a sense of pride inside as I watched the elderly
woman drive off. But then, this man came running right at me and stole
my baked lays. I awoke a few days later in the hospital recovering from
the wounds I had received from his attack on me. I am now going to a
theripist for lack of backed lays. I do not think I will ever get better
until I am given another bag of baked lays. You are my only hope of
tasting those chips again. Please save me!!!!

I think I should win a free bag of these chips because I have never had
them before. If I try them and like them I will be a lifelong consumer
and so will my family. I have calculated that if I like your chips I
will consume 4160 bags in my lifetime. No doubt my children will also
become addicted and since one of my girls is only 7 she will consume
about 3680 bags! Our other child is due in June! You do the math. I
should win!

I owe money to the Federal Government. I owe money to the states of Virginia and Oklahoma. I’m broke. That’s why I deserve the
free bag of Lays. Also, Herman Lay was my second cousin, once removed.

I should get the bag of chips because I manage a high school student
store, so I control the brand of chips and other snacks that 2,000
teenagers can eat on any given day. So, I am holding you and Frito-Lay
hostage. Either pony up the bag, or my students will go chipless, and
that would be a terrible thing to watch.

I kindly request a bag o’ lays for my project for world domination.. I
figure if I can hypnotize small government officals with its goodness. In the words of Brain, “Same thing we do every night, try and take over the world!!”

I would love to win a bag of baked lays because my yellow naped parrot,
Chewie, is a potato chip junkie. He has very high tastes, though, and I
would like to see if your Baked Lays can hold up to the birdie taste
test.

Baked Lays melt in your mouth not in your hands.

B aked Lays are better

A sk anyone who has tried them
K evin tried them he
E at all of them
D idn’t share any with the

L adys, they were

A ngry and upset they
Y elled “Baked Lays are the Best’
S end me the free bag.

I should win because I am a winner. I have been taught from infancy that the only thing that matters is winning. Losing is not winning, or something.
I will not accept losing, America will not accept a loser. We would not be the greatest county in the world if we accepted anything besides
absolute power and authority. I mean we have fought in wars that have taken our young fighting men so that the rest of us can sit at home in our underwear, drinking colt 45 from a can, and surfing the web so we can enter piddley little contest for a 6 ounce bag of cooked potato slices, and by god those men did not die in vain. Well I don’t need to say anymore, just send me my darn chips so I can get on to my next major victory, taking a well needed shower.

I had a dream–in the dream I was strolling down a potato path and
what did I see but a fuzzy little, who knew, it could have been a–oh no–
it’s the FAT FUZZY CREATURE FROM THE HARD ARTERY ZONE!! He seemed to be
coming my way–HELP–then from nowhere jumped a thin healthy looking HERO
to save the day!! Oy Vey–Look it’s the golden boy himself–BAKED AVENGER-
in his skin-tight yellow outfit-with matching cape and gloves (A real
fashion statement) he was here to save the day with a bag of those great
tasting BAKED LAYS! WOW! was I lucky–I sure hope the next person who
walks this way is as lucky as me. It must be morning–the sun is shining–and look–next to my bed–I can’t believe it!! My own bag of BAKED LAYS and a note that read ENJOY! ENJOY! NO MORE GUILT-JUST SOME BAKED LAYS ALL FOR YOU– THE END–OR MAYBE JUST THE BEGINNING!

Yes, all these entries seem deserving of the bag of Baked Lays, but we had to settle on one winner only. Shane and Lori Kenyon submitted this entry, and frankly, we don’t want to be responsible for all mankind. So here is the winning entry:

We have recently been approached by aliens who have threatened to
demolish our planet unless we could find a suitable gift to send them on
their way. Many nights we laid awake, wracking our brains, trying to
think of something worthy of these mighty visitors. We were thinking of
giving them the key to our city, but OUR mayor didn’t believe us. We
thought they might be impressed by our copy of the yellow pages, but
they didn’t have any fingers. Just when we were ready to abandon hope we
were fortunate enough to stumble upon your little contest, quite by
accident actually. Then it hit us, if we could just win this contest we
could save the world. My wife said we should just buy a bag, but alas we
had between us only $2.50, for we had spent all our money trying to find
a gift for these aliens. Now the fate of the world lies in your hands.
Please, we beseach you, for the sake of mankind find it in your hearts to
award us this lifesaving prize.