PopCorners debuts LTO Jalapeño Popper flavor

Kentucky Derby Week attendees will get the first chance to try the newest flavor.

courtesy of PopCorners

Frito-Lay's PopCorners brand is adding a new flavor to its stable: Jalapeño Popper, a limited-edition flavor that offers a mix of jalapeño heat with the taste of smooth and savory cheese.

Kentucky Derby Week attendees will get the first chance to try the newest flavor at the PopCorners Snackbook on the Churchill Downs grounds on May 3–4. Guests will be transported back to a 1920s-style venue but instead of selecting a prized thoroughbred, they'll have a chance to "Get Caught with Something Good" by placing free bets on their favorite PopCorners flavors for the chance to win prizes, including the new Jalapeño Popper flavor.

"We're excited to give fans an opportunity to try our newest PopCorners flavor in an unexpected and fun setting," says Rhasheda Boyd, vice president of marketing, PepsiCo. "In developing the new Jalapeño Popper flavor, we saw an unmet desire for spicier options in the snack aisle. So, we decided to embrace our 'popped, never fried' motto with a unique take on a familiar food."

The PopCorners Snackbook arrives on the heels (or hooves) of the brand's new "Get Caught with Something Good" commercial. Released last month, the commercial inserts PopCorners into an unconventional situation—a Prohibition-era speakeasy—where guests are served the popped snack instead of the typical bootlegged beverage.

Fans who can't attend the brand's limited-time pop-up at Churchill Downs can still participate in a nationwide sweepstakes. From May 4-6, Derby viewers everywhere can simply share a selfie from their race day celebrations for a chance to win a $20,000 cash prize and a Derby-style garland—made out of PopCorners instead of roses. To enter, fans can follow @PopCorners on X, like the brand's Derby Day tweet on May 4, and reply with their photo along with #PopCornersDerbySweepstakes.

The latest in the brand's portfolio of flavors, PopCorners Jalapeño Popper is available starting in May for a limited time in 6.5-oz. bags for $4.79 or 3-oz bags for $2.99.

PepsiCo (Frito-Lay) is on the current Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery “Top 50 Snack & Bakery Companies” list. Click here to view the current “Top 50” rankings.

Liz Parker Kuhn is the senior editor of Candy Industry and Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery, and has worked at BNP Media since 2012. She has written for CBS Detroit as well as for her own blogs. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan. Liz can be contacted at (248) 839-7156 or at parkere@bnpmedia.com.

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