Why Your Favorite Snacks Could Soon Cost Less

PepsiCo says it plans to reduce prices by as much as 15% on some of its most popular snack brands, including Lay’s, Doritos, and Cheetos, in an effort to win back price-sensitive shoppers. The move follows years of inflation-driven increases that made salty snacks significantly more expensive for consumers.

According to the company, retail prices for salty snacks rose sharply after the pandemic, with prices in 2024 roughly 38% higher than in 2020. PepsiCo executives said the company received a wave of emails and voicemail messages from customers who said rising prices were making it harder to buy their favorite snacks.

Under PepsiCo’s suggested changes, an 8-ounce bag of Lay’s potato chips could fall from $4.99 to about $4.29, while a bag of Doritos could drop by roughly 80 cents. While retailers ultimately set shelf prices, PepsiCo says it expects many stores to follow the recommendations.

The company says it is funding the affordability push by cutting costs internally, including closing some manufacturing plants, trimming product lines, and redesigning packaging to emphasize that the snacks are the same size at a lower price.

PepsiCo is also increasing marketing efforts as competition from cheaper store-brand snacks continues to grow.