National Corn Chip Day

The story

Corn chips have been crunching their way into snack bowls since 1932, thanks to Charles Elmer Doolin, a Texan with a sweet tooth and a flair for innovation. Doolin owned a candy store but wanted to add something savory to his offerings. His fried tortilla experiments kept turning stale too quickly, so he sought a new approach.

One day, Doolin discovered strips of fried corn dough at a local gas station and was hooked. After persuading the seller to share the recipe, he perfected it and began selling bags of his version. That’s when Fritos was born, sparking America's love affair with corn chips.

By 1945, Doolin partnered with Herman Lay (yes, the Lay’s potato chips guy) to distribute Fritos nationwide. The duo formed a snack-world powerhouse, and by the 1950s, Fritos became one of America’s top-selling corn chips. After Doolin’s death, the two companies merged in 1959 to create Frito-Lay, the snack empire we know today.

But what exactly is a corn chip? Made from cornmeal and fried (or baked for a lighter crunch), they’re thick, salty, and satisfyingly crunchy, with a bold roasted corn flavor. Unlike tortilla chips, which are thinner and often paired with salsa, corn chips stand strong on their own or as the perfect chili companion.