Doritos

2008-12-06T19:55:25Z

MattA: history of notable ad campaigns

'''Doritos''', produced by the American company [[Frito-Lay]], are the most popular snack chip in the United States.<ref>http://www.pepsico.com/PEP_Company/History/ — 1966 Milestones</ref> Doritos are similar to [[potato chips]], but are made with [[corn]] and a variety of [[spice]]s and [[season]]ings. Some flavors, such as Cool [[Ranch]] Doritos, are also available in low-fat varieties.

==History==
The brand was launched in 1966, the year after H.W. Lay's "Frito-Lay Company" (the maker of [[Fritos]]) merged with the [[Pepsi-Cola]] Company to form PepsiCo, Inc.<ref>http://www.fritolay.com/fl/flstore/cgi-bin/comp_hist.htm</ref> Pepsi-Cola had hoped to use the merger to its advantage, since salty snacks and cold carbonated drinks fit naturally together; however, an [[Federal Trade Commission]] [[anti-trust]] lawsuit brought against Frito-Lay in 1963 stifled many of Pepsi's aspirations. For example, the FTC barred PepsiCo from creating [[cross-promotion]]s between Frito products and Pepsi-brand beverages.<ref name="fundinguniverse">http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/FritoLay-Company-Company-History.html</ref>

Nevertheless, Frito-Lay's new product — the triangular tortilla chips known as ''Doritos'' — took off, thanks to their being "more flavorful and crunchier"<ref name="fundinguniverse"/> than any competing brand. In 1968, Doritos' star rose higher with the introduction of [[taco]]-flavored Doritos; and in 1972 came [[nacho]] [[cheese]]–flavored Doritos. (Cool Ranch Doritos would not be introduced until Frito-Lay's exuberant expansion in the late 1980s.<ref name="fundinguniverse"/>)

As the triangular snack penetrated national markets, it gradually lost its ethnic, "Mexican" character,<ref name="fundinguniverse"/><ref>http://michaelianblack.typepad.com/blog/2008/06/hey-doritos-get.html</ref> much as Frito-Lay's flagship Fritos had lost theirs over the preceding 40 years. (Around the same time, in 1971, Frito-Lay retired its cartoon mascot, the Tex Avery–animated "[[Frito Bandito]]".<ref name="toonopedia">http://www.toonopedia.com/frito.htm</ref>) This "blandishment" of the snack's image may have helped it gain traction outside the [[Southwest]], where Frito-Lay had always been strongest. (Frito-Lay's headquarters were<ref name="fundinguniverse"/> and still are<ref>http://www.fritolay.com/our-company/contact-us.htm</ref> located in [[Texas]].) By 1985, Doritos were raking in sales of $500 million annually; by the end of the decade, they were being sold in 20 countries worldwide.<ref name="fundinguniverse"/>

By 1993, Doritos were the #1 snack food in America, with annual sales of roughly $1.3 billion.<ref name="collins">Glenn Collins, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9906E2DE173EF930A35752C1A962958260 "Pepsico Pushes a Star Performer"]. ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 3, 1994.</ref> Actress [[Ali Landry]] made a name for herself as the "Doritos Girl" in an acclaimed series of advertisements which debuted during the 1998, 1999, and 2000 [[Superbowl]]s. More recently, Nacho Cheese Doritos sponsored satirist [[Stephen Colbert]]'s abortive mock run for the Presidency.<ref>[http://writ.lp.findlaw.com/commentary/20071109_hasen.html "Stephen Colbert's 'Hail to the Cheese' Presidential Candidacy: Why the Comedian's Campaign Raises Serious Questions about the Role of Corporate Money In Elections"]. Richard L. Hasen, ''FindLaw.com''. November 9, 2007.</ref> (According to Frito-Lay spokesman Jared Dougherty, Frito-Lay "has an ongoing relationship" with [[Viacom]], the parent company of [[Comedy Central]].<ref>[http://www.insidebrandedentertainment.com/bep/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003728560 "Colbert snacking with Doritos again"]. Gail Schiller, ''The Hollywood Reporter''. March 21, 2008.</ref>) In April 2008, the Doritos brand sponsored a [[reality television]] series on [[MTV]] to promote its launch of Spicy Sweet Chili–flavored chips.<ref>[http://www.commercialalert.org/news/Archive/2008/03/mtv-doritos-partner-for-reality-series "MTV, Doritos Partner for Reality Series"]. Press release.</ref>

On June 12, 2008, Doritos launched the world's first "[[extraterrestrial]]" advertising campaign, broadcasting a 30-second spot via "high-powered [[radar]]s"<ref>http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080612122817.htm</ref> located at the Arctic Circle and operated by the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association ([[EISCAT]]).<ref>https://e7.eiscat.se/Members/tony/MyNews/20080307_1stAD</ref>

==Criticisms==
One prominent criticism of the original Doritos formula was that the chips were "too heavy, too thick, and too crunchy",<ref name="fundinguniverse"/> a criticism which the Frito-Lay Company initially addressed by creating [[Tostitos]], a thinner, lighter, crispier snack chip. In 1994, the Doritos formula itself was changed to make the chips "20 percent larger, 15 percent thinner, and stronger tasting",<ref name="collins"/> and to give the chips rounded corners that would not break off and leave wasted scraps in the bottom of the bag.

It has also been pointed out that Doritos' many new flavors and varieties (22 varieties as of 2008<ref>http://www.fritolay.com/fl/flstore/cgi-bin/products_doritos.htm</ref>) are typically only slight variations on two themes: "spicy cheese" and "cool".<ref>[http://the-trifecta.com/2007/09/16/the-biggest-scam-in-the-history-of-the-flavored-corn-tortilla-chips-industry/ "The Biggest Scam in the History of the Flavored Corn Tortilla Chips Industry"]. "The Trifecta", September 16, 2007.</ref> Exceptions to this general rule include the "plain"-flavored Doritos "Toasted Corn" Tortilla Chips<ref>[http://www.fritolay.com/fl/flstore/cgi-bin/Nutrition_ProdID_3043.htm "Nutritional Information: DORITOS Toasted Corn Tortilla Chips"]</ref> and several generally short-lived or promotional flavors, such as Doritos [[Guacamole]].<ref>[http://www.taquitos.net/snacks.php?snack_code=1871 "Doritos Guacamole!"], ''taquitos.net''</ref><ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgMyrXGmDhI — Doritos Guacamole TV commercial</ref>

==Quote==
*"[Doritos are] uninhibited and irreverent ... If you think of [the] Doritos brand as a person, it would be a likable wise guy." —Roger Berdusco, Frito-Lay VP of marketing<ref name="collins"/>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Snack Foods]]

Island

2008-12-06T19:51:20Z

MattA: wikify

An '''island''' is any piece of [[land]], of less than [[continent]]al size, that is completely surrounded by water. [[Hawaii]] and [[Cuba]] are both islands.

== External links ==

*[http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/glossary/ Glossary]

[[Category:Geography]]

Orkney

2008-12-06T19:51:04Z

MattA: wikify

'''The Orkney Islands''' are a [[county]] and group of [[island]]s off the North Coast of [[Scotland]]. The [[Shetland|Shetland Islands]] are also part of Scotland but much further to the north.

The [[archipelago]] consists of 70 or so islands and skerries, of which 17 are currently inhabited.
[[Category:United Kingdom Counties]]
[[Category:Scottish Islands]]
[[Category:Scottish Counties and Regions]]

Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Doritos

Island

Orkney