Summary of Biting into the origin story of Flamin' Hot Cheetos

00:00:00 - 00:05:00

In the video, "Biting into the origin story of Flamin' Hot Cheetos," Lee Cowan and Richard Montonez discuss the product's invention and subsequent success. Cowan tells the story of how he came up with the idea for the spicy snack food, and how he later pitched it to Frito-Lay's parent company. Montonez claims that he developed the recipe with help from team members, but some of these team members are now angry with him for taking credit. Despite the controversy, Cowan says that the story of Flaming Hot Cheetos is worth telling.

• 00:00:00 In this short video, Lee Cowan and Richard Montonez discuss their careers in the food industry, with Cowan focusing on his time as the inventor of Flaming Hot Cheetos. Cowan tells the story of how he came up with the idea for the spicy snack food, and how he later pitched it to Frito-Lay's parent company. When the LA Times published an article detailing the product's origins, Montonez claims that he developed the recipe with help from team members, but some of these team members are now angry with him for taking credit. Despite the controversy, Cowan says that the story of Flaming Hot Cheetos is worth telling before the snack food's "cheeto dust hit the fan."
• 00:05:00 In 1991, Pepsico executive Richard Montagnes called Flamin' Hot Cheetos' inventor, Enrico De Tomaso, and pitched a product that Pepsico had already trademarked and was test marketing in select cities. In a statement to a hungry press, Pepsico later stated that the success of Flaming Hot Cheetos and other products was due to several people who had worked at Pepsico, including Montagnes. The next week, his book detailing his achievements, minus the questions about his children, is set to be released. Actress Eva Longoria is set to direct an upcoming film about his life. It is clear that Montagnes is not about to apologize for what he believes made him a flaming hot success.