DAILY DIRT: At least one snack-food giant is responding to customer complaints

October 22, 2024 | By Steve Eighinger, Muddy River News Minister of Culture and Doctor of Love

Daily Dirt for Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024

More bang for the buck, when it comes to snack chips! … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,093 of The Daily Dirt.

1. May I be the first to tip my hat to PepsiCo, the food and beverage company that has been quick to react to the displeasure of its customers.

PepsiCo manufactures, distributes and markets a wide range of products such as snacks and soft drinks, and the company says it is boosting the volume of some of its packages of chips after being accused last year of “shrinkflation,” or reducing the size of products without lowering the price.The move comes after Pepsi reported a surprise drop in revenue in the third quarter.

According to Fox News in Los Angeles, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the food and beverage giant would be offering bonus packs of snack products (such as Tostitos) that will contain 20 percent more chips, and will also be throwing two or three more bags of such chips into multipacks as a way to add value for consumers.

“You can expect larger servings of Doritos, Tostitos, Ruffles and Lay’s as PepsiCo reacts to consumers’ complaints,” according to the Fox affiliate.

Bravo, PepsiCo!

2. Speaking of snacks, did you know (Part 161)

That there are now hot dog-flavored potato chips on the market, including flavors accented by ketchup, mustard and relish. Look for them at convenience stores.
That new Cheez-It flavors set for November release are Smoked Cheddar and Smoked Gouda.
That Chips Ahoy! has brought back its chewy cocoa cookies for the first time in almost a decade. (Pop Tarts will also be releasing a Marshmallow Hot Cocoa flavor, and Pepperidge Farm will be showcasing a new Peppermint Cocoa cookie.)
That M&M will be unveiling a peanut butter ice cream sandwich in early 2025.
That Oreo cookies will have a special holiday release coming out in the near future, featuring layers of BOTH red and green filling. And, yes, the white fudge-covered Oreos will also be returning soon.)
That a “Friends (yes, just like the TV show) Vanilla Bean Latte” cereal is launching near the end of 2024.

3. Did you notice who the new record-holder for a ticketed U.S. concert is?

None other than the king of country, George Strait, who earlier this year drew 110,905 fans to an event at Texas A&M University’s gigantic Kyle Field football stadium.

The previous record was held by the Grateful Dead at a 1977 performance in New Jersey for 107,019 fans, according to Billboard magazine.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Believe it or not, these are actual names of towns in Alabama: The Bottle, Burnt Corn, Frog Eye, Lick Skillet, Needmore, Scratch Ankle, Screamer and Smut Eye.