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Product type | Potato chips |
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Owner | PepsiCo |
Produced by | Frito–Lay |
Country | Canada |
Introduced | 1935 2024 (revival) |
Discontinued | 1996 | (rebranded to Lay's)
Related brands | Lay's |
Markets | Canada |
Previous owners | Hostess Food Products (1935–59) General Foods (1959–92) |
Website | munchies |
Hostess, also known as Munchies from 2024, is the name of a potato chip brand that was the leading brand in Canada for many years after its creation in 1935. During its heyday, they fended off any attempt to displace them from their commanding position, and maintained their #1 position into the 1980s, even in the face of increased competition from US-based companies entering the Canadian market before eventually leading to a merger with US based Lay's in 1988.
By the early 1990s Hostess suffered serious brand erosion and competition with the introduction of various "upscale" brands such as Kettle Chips and Miss Vickie's. The brand was replaced by the multi-national Lay's banner in 1996 as part of its major re-branding exercise. As of 2024, the Hostess brand is used only on a few products. The brand was revived in 2024 as Munchies.