In 1932, two young entrepreneurs independently began to operate two separate companies that were thousands of miles apart. (Elmer Doolin & Herman W. Lay of Nashville)
1. The Frito Company
In 1932, Elmer Doolin started doing business in a small San Antonio cafe and purchased a bag of corn chips to eat with his sandwich. Mr. Doolin set his new business venture in his mother's kitchen. Because there was no money for hiring employees, his family helped him. In 1933, the fritos production was increased by designing a "hammer" pres and the company continued to expand. In 1945, as American returned to peace-time, the country exposed a huge demand, booming population.In order to meet it, The Frito Sales Company was established, which separated sales from production activities Expansion by the Frito National Company continued with the issue of six franchises in 1945. The first of the FRITOS® franchises was offered to The H.W. Lay Company of Atlanta, GA., and would be the start of a partnership that would change consumption patterns of American people. Its first public stock was issued in 1954, with sales that year reaching $21 million.
“Mr. Doolin changed a small, kitchen-operated business into a multi-million dollar company. At the time of his death in 1959, The Frito Company produced over forty products, had plants in eighteen cities, employed over 3,000 people, and had sales in 1958 in excess of $50 million. Today, FRITOS® Corn Chips rank among the top 10 salty snacks in the United States.”
2. The Lay Company
In 1932, Herman W. Lay started his potato chip business in Nashville. His job is to sell and make deliveries for the Barrett Food Products Company by his Model A Ford touring car.Later that year, he took over Barrett's small Nashville warehouse as a distributor role. The job included only commisision on sales , not a salary. As his territory expanded, his profits arise. He bought the Barrett Food Company’s