The spicy dispute over who invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos is being settled in a court case involving former PepsiCo executive Richard Montañez. Montañez, who began working as a janitor at a Frito-Lay plant in 1977, claims he came up with the idea to dust Cheetos with chili powder after a machine broke down, leaving behind unflavored Cheetos. He pitched the idea to PepsiCo CEO Roger Enrico in 1991 and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos were introduced in 1992.
PepsiCo initially promoted Montañez’s story and sent him on speaking engagements, but according to Montañez, they shut him out of the research and development process for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Despite this, Montañez continued to develop other spicy snacks, leading to a promotion within the company. He eventually became PepsiCo’s vice president of multicultural marketing and sales, before retiring in 2019 to pursue a career as a motivational speaker.
In 2021, Montañez says PepsiCo turned on him by cooperating with a Los Angeles Times piece that claimed others within the company were already working on spicy snacks before Montañez approached them. The article also suggested that the name “Flamin’ Hot” was not Montañez’s idea. Montañez believes this about-face has damaged his speaking career and other opportunities, including a potential documentary about his life. He is seeking damages for discrimination, fraud, and defamation.
The lawsuit alleges that PepsiCo destroyed Montañez’s career after questioning his claim to have invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and cooperating with a media piece that discredited his story. Montañez, who retired from PepsiCo to become a full-time motivational speaker, claims that PepsiCo actively promoted his story before turning on him in 2021. The dispute over the origin of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos has taken a legal turn with Montañez seeking damages for what he perceives as discrimination and defamation.
Despite the success of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Montañez’s other spicy snack innovations, the lawsuit claims that PepsiCo excluded Montañez from the research and development process and eventually dismantled his reputation within the company. Montañez believes that PepsiCo’s actions have damaged his career and his ability to pursue other opportunities. The court case will ultimately determine whether Montañez is entitled to damages for the alleged discrimination, fraud, and defamation he has experienced as a result of the dispute over the invention of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
The lawsuit highlights the importance of recognizing and giving credit to individuals who contribute to the development of innovative products within companies. Montañez’s story serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by employees who may not receive proper recognition for their ideas and contributions in a corporate setting. The legal battle over the invention of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos raises questions about intellectual property rights and the treatment of employees who bring valuable ideas to companies but may not receive acknowledgment for their contributions. Ultimately, the court case will determine the outcome of this spicy dispute and may set a precedent for how companies handle disputes over the origin of popular products.
