Flamin Hot Cheetos A Janitors Idea That Changed Food Forever

Richard Montañez, a janitor at Frito-Lay, created the recipe for Flamin' Hot Cheetos and pitched it directly to the CEO, who was impressed by his ingenuity. With the help of Montañez, Frito-Lay began testing Flamin' Hot Cheetos in Latino markets, which was a wild success. Upon its national release, Flamin' Hots became one of the most successful product launches in Frito-Lay history. The story highlights the importance of creating a culture that allows employees to take risks and the impact of accessibility and support from leaders.