When people find out that I work with Frito-Lay, I always get two questions: “What new products are available?” and “Why did you discontinue my favorite product (fill in the blank)?” Even my family asks me these questions: My sister still wants to know when we're going to bring back Fritos Racerz (no current plans).
The good news is that I occasionally get to answer the “discontinued” questions by telling people, “Thanks to frequent requests from our customers and consumers, we’re bringing it back by popular demand.” The most recent example is Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa, which is back in stores this month.
Like many of you, I was disappointed when Frito-Lay discontinued Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa two years ago to make room for new flavors of dips -- Tostitos Creamy Spinach, Fritos Zesty Bean and Cheese, etc. I always liked the Restaurant Style Salsa though because it's similar to what you get in restaurants -- it's got a bit of a spicy kick with diced vegetables.
Cathy Dial, Frito-Lay’s Director of Consumer Affairs (and former guest blogger here on Snack Chat), tells me that when Restaurant Style Salsa was discontinued in 2007, we received more than 1,600 requests from consumers via letters and our 1-800 number in just a few months, asking us to bring it back -- more than double any other request that year. And the requests kept coming in 2008, so the Tostitos marketing team decided to re-launch the popular salsa this year. It still has the same taste and flavor as the product I knew and loved a couple years ago, yet it is now "All Natural," as is the rest of the Tostitos Salsa line-up.
"We are evaluating adding other authentic dips to the line," says Tyler Reeves, head of Marketing for Frito-Lay Dips. "We're talking to consumers now to find out what they would like, and some of the top ideas are guacamole and cheesy artichoke."
So, if you have a favorite product that has been discontinued, take heart and keep sending your feedback to Consumer Affairs. You can comment here on Snack Chat, or CLICK HERE to submit your ideas and suggestions to the Consumer Affairs team.
Frito-Lay cares what you think about our products and listens to what you have to say, as our Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa re-launch proves. Tell me what you think of Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa?
Thank you very much for bringing this product back to life. It was a sad day when my local grocer sold their last jar a few years back. It's been a long journey of trying to find a substitute and I was happily surprised (shocked actually) to see it was on the shelf yesterday. Just in case it was a fluke I bought 12 jars. I'm glad to see it's not a fluke! Thanks again,
Posted by: Zach Dennis | May 23, 2009 at 08:12 PM
Great job by bringing this product back. Almost everyone I talk to could not believe it went away a few years ago. Like everyone else there is just no substitute for this product. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Steve Wilke | May 26, 2009 at 01:11 PM
Is it still gluten free? It was on the gluten free list in the past, but I assume it was taken off when the product was discontinued.
Posted by: Pedro | May 28, 2009 at 09:14 PM
Pedro -- yes, Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa is still gluten free. We'll be adding it to our "Products Not Containing Gluten" list on fritolay.com shortly. Thanks for your question, and we hope you enjoy the salsa!
Posted by: Michael K | May 29, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Sweet, thanks dude!
Posted by: Pedro | May 30, 2009 at 03:29 PM
I have not seen it yet, but I'll go looking. It was absolutely my fav. When they discontinued it I called them, emailed them & had all my friends do the same. They then notified me that some would be available as Santitas Salsa for a short time in May 2006 only at Wal-Mart. When it was I had 24 jars stocked. Sadly it ran out Jan 2009. Now I can enjoy it again
Thanks
Posted by: Gary Stachula | June 03, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Gary - to find stores near you that carry it now, go to: http://www.fritolay.com/our-snacks/where-to-buy.html -- look under Dips - Tostitos Salsas & Dips - Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa. Happy shopping!
Posted by: Kristin | June 03, 2009 at 01:03 PM
I found it. Bought 4 jars today we've already finished off one.
Thanks
Posted by: Gary Stachula | June 03, 2009 at 01:25 PM
I keep buying buying the grocery store out everytime more come in. My husband won't eat other types of salsa. I can't keep enough in the house. He wants to know if he cna buy it by the case. Thanks for bringing the resteraunt style back.
Posted by: Angelena Allen | June 03, 2009 at 01:42 PM
Yummy.....Thank you Thank you Thank you.....it's wonderful!
Posted by: Grover | June 03, 2009 at 05:27 PM
my son and i felt as if we won the lottery! our favorite salsa of all time!!!!!!!!!! and back in perfect time....summer vacation!
Posted by: p | June 03, 2009 at 05:38 PM
Hooray!! I am one of those people who called and requested this product. Now if I can just get my local store to keep enough in stock....
Posted by: Lisalou | June 05, 2009 at 02:40 PM
Best salsa ever!!! My daughter found one of the new jars sku # 2840008936 in a convience store 2 weeks ago but we can not find it at our local grocery store.
Posted by: Amy | June 07, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Re: Amy; check out the "where to buy" link on http://www.fritolay.com to find stores near you that have Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa in stock now. I'm glad you are enjoying it again -- I love it too!
Posted by: Kristin | June 08, 2009 at 06:37 AM
Yes! So happy to have my favorite salsa back! When I got home from the store tonight, I immediately ate half the jar over the kitchen stove--with Tostitos restaurant-style chips, duh.
Posted by: O | June 08, 2009 at 06:31 PM
I love restaraunt style salsa I called the company headquaters & they said this is a in & out product buy all you can it wont be in stores for long if anybody is listening dont pull this product please
Posted by: greg johnson | June 12, 2009 at 08:50 AM
I have kept the last jar of Restaurant Style Salsa these past 2 years awaiting it's return. Instead of celebrating by opening it and using it, I am going to save it as a memento. I am probably the biggest fan of this salsa, litterly not physically. I am headed to the store to see if it is there on the shelf.
Posted by: BJ Deni | June 13, 2009 at 10:41 AM
thank you sooooooooooooo much for bringing it back! i found i on the shelf the other day and thought i was dreaming! so i went back today for another jar and it was gone....i knew i shoulda bought every last one of them when i saw them!!! lol! waiting for them to restock the shelves with my fav salsa! this is the best thing Frito Lay could have done. :) please dont ever discontinue it again!
Posted by: christa | June 14, 2009 at 06:39 PM
YEAH!
I have tried so many other brands and nothing compares to this except homemade. I'm so happy it will be back in stores -- hopefully, one in my area.
Posted by: robin campion | June 27, 2009 at 04:54 PM
I am soooo grateful! I have been searching and trying salsa after salsa. Nothing measures up. I'm going to the store today!!!
Posted by: Angela | July 01, 2009 at 02:21 PM
Awesome!
Posted by: Brett | July 01, 2009 at 09:25 PM
We are thrilled to see it back, but are still having a hard time finding it. It has only been at a small local grocery store so far, and most of the time they are out of it. Please press the larger chains to pick this up.
Posted by: Stephanie | July 04, 2009 at 02:55 PM
Thank you so very much.
Posted by: Jon | July 06, 2009 at 08:00 AM
I know this is probably not possible but I was wondering if you would share the recipe so I could try it out with my own veggies and herbs from my garden. I LOVE this salsa and would really like to try to make some.
Posted by: Christy Brinker | July 06, 2009 at 08:27 AM
Always loved this salsa! - definitely the best canned salsa. We bought it as soon as we saw it again - but I swear the original had more cilantro in it - that was the key to making it taste like fresh restaurant salsa - did the recipe change?!
Anyway - we're happy to see it back!
Future suggestion - offer something in the grocers fresh section. We'll buy salsa from the local small mexican restaurants by the gallon because nothing canned is really the same. Tostitos restaurant style comes close - but it's still a "stewed" recipe.
Posted by: Andrew | July 06, 2009 at 03:18 PM