Charles Elmer Doolin, manager of the Highland Park Confectionery in San Antonio, purchased a corn chip recipe, a handheld potato ricer and 19 retail accounts from a corn chip manufacturer in 1932 for $100, which he borrowed from his mother.
Doolin established a new corn chip business, The Frito Company, in his mother’s kitchen. Doolin, his mother and brother produced the corn chips, named Fritos, and had a production capacity of approximately 10 pounds per day. Doolin distributed the Fritos in 5ยข bags. Daily sales totaled $8 to $10 and profits averaged about $2 per day.
In 1933, the production of Fritos increased from 10 pounds to nearly 100 pounds due to the development of a “hammer” press. By the end of the year, production lines were operating in Houston and Dallas.
The Frito Company headquarters also moved to Dallas to capitalize on the city’s central location and better availability of raw materials. In 1937, The Frito Company opened its Research and Development lab and introduced new products including Fritos Peanut Butter Sandwiches and Fritos Peanuts to supplement Fritos and Fritatos Potato Chips, which had been introduced in 1935.