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!! Absolutely LOVE the Restaurant Salsa. I too never could find a substitute for it.
I was a loyal customer, and when it was discontinued. I roamed around looking for something suitable, it did not happen.
I'm back and thanks again.
Posted by: Barb | July 17, 2009 at 06:19 AM
After this was discontinued, I tried at least 10 other jarred salsas and never found anything I or my kids liked as much. We love this jarred salsa and my kids are picky eaters). I recently found it again by accident in the specials aisle of my local grocer. Unfoturtanately, after I purchased it a couple of times, I haven't been able to find it since at my local Stop and Shop (must have sold out). I never called or emailed FL after it was discontinued, but I'm glad to read I'm not the only one that thinks this is the best jarred salsa out there.
Posted by: Roselynnbelle | July 21, 2009 at 03:12 PM
i was so upset when you took the restaurant style salsa off the market, you have to bring it back for good, 2 yrs. ago i called and complained it was gone, everytime since then i would always look for it when i was at a store, the other day when i seen it i was so surprised that i bought all they had on the shelf, guess i better go back and buy a whole lot more, PLEASE BRING IT BACK FOR GOOD. shirley mahan 7-22-09
Posted by: shirley mahan | July 22, 2009 at 11:33 AM
I just wanted to say that I'm so pleased that you finally brought the restaurant style salsa back. I heard that this is only temporary and that news is highly disappointing. I have went around to all our local stores and bought up all the jars I can find. Please reconsider bringing this salsa back permanently...you would not be sorry, it is truly the best tasting salsa in a jar!!!
Posted by: Shirley Johnson | July 27, 2009 at 05:14 PM
After you discontinued this, my husband and I kept searching for a new salsa.. and never found one. Looks like we can stop searching and go back to our favorite!
Posted by: Bob | August 11, 2009 at 06:39 AM
To the Frito Lay company....Thanks for hearing and responding to your consumers wishes by bringing back Restaurant Style salsa. When this product ceased production before ,I was shocked that a proven seller could be taken off line and could not understand the logic.Thank you for listening to the consumer and being flexible enough to re-introduce it.Having searched through countless salsa's in vain trying to find a subsitute and being dissapointed everytime, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when I saw the jars at a nearby store. My initial purchase was 4 jars and I couldnt get home and get one chilling in the refrigerator fast enough.Next day this lifelong NASCAR fan sat down to watch a race and the Tostitos chips and Restaurant salsa came out.As it was before and will now be again,my snack of choice when watching racing or other sporting events will be this combo.Thank you again.
Posted by: Frank | August 18, 2009 at 06:03 AM
I have called fritolay and they say the salsa is still being made. however i can no longer find it in stores. called walmart national number and was told there is not any in my area. how does fritolay expect people to buy it when you cant find it. but the chunky crap is all over the place.
Posted by: fred campbell | August 26, 2009 at 08:21 AM
Fred - you can use the following link to find stores near you that sell specific products:
http://www.fritolay.com/our-snacks/where-to-buy.html
You can search for the salsa by you zip code. Thanks!
Posted by: Kristin H | August 26, 2009 at 08:42 AM
Ok, so I found it...bought 3 jars and now I can't find it again! What gives?
Posted by: kristen | August 29, 2009 at 11:19 AM
THE SALSA DIDNT MAKE IT TO SOUTH DAKOTA UNTIL AUGUST 2009!!!! But so glad I found this salsa at a Tent sale at Lewis. I thought to myself...I havent seen this in years, I started telling people that I thought they quit making it and all of a sudden its back...they thought i was crazy..so I GOOGLED IT OF COURSE!!! And found this article! Then I sent the link to them to proove that i was not crazy! Then I was even more crazy.....Did you actually "google" the salsa....ummm maybe! :) Please dont take it off the shelves! If you add fresh tomatoes and more cilantro it is AMAZING!
Posted by: Kara | September 02, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Glad it's back. Will have to look out for it. However, I'd LOOOOOVE to see the Nacho Cheese Flavored Tostitos back from the 80's!! SAME RECIPE! Those were and are still the BEST chip out there!! PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE bring it back; even if for a limited/trial basis! ;- ))
Posted by: Renee | September 02, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Like many others, when I found this salsa before being discontinued I always kept it in stock. Being from the Northeast I didn't see it very often. When I could no longer find it, I called Frito Lay and they said it was discontinued. They said it was big in the Southwest but not distributed much in the Northeast. When my wife saw this on the store shelf a month or two ago it was like opening a Christmas gift you always wanted but didn't expect to receive. Figuring this was a limited time thing, I stocked up with about 14 jars. Now there's none left and again I can't find any. I hope this due to consumer demand and everyone like myself is stocking up. I checked the "find a store near you". There are sereral stores that supposedly carry it but apparently they aren't stocking there shelves to well. (Unless you want the thick and chunky ketchup based) Come on Frito Lay - Stop messing with us. Either start making the stuff and supply the stores, who obviously can sell the product, or quit making it and let us know so we can go to the local Mexican reataurant and get our salsa there.
Posted by: Mark A. Palmer | September 08, 2009 at 04:21 PM
I LOVE this salsa! I am super excited! This is my all time favorite salsa! Thank you so much!!
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=682110476 | September 08, 2009 at 05:10 PM
Does anyone know if this will come back in Mild as well?
Posted by: Jessica | September 10, 2009 at 06:46 AM
Just got back from Labor Day Weekend with in-laws. Someone pulled out salsa and I couldn't believe my eyes! At first, I thought they had some really ooooolllllddd salsa - yuk! But I looked closely and knew right away it was the real thing in newer packaging - "Restaurant Sytle Salsa". I couldn't wait to get home and check it out on the web. I was one of the customers who checked this site when it was discontinued and was hopeful it would be returned when I saw the number of people who missed it as much as I did. So, thank you for listening to your customers! I am forever grateful.
Posted by: Paula Heckman | September 10, 2009 at 07:43 AM
My husband thanks you for bringing his favorite salsa back!! TY :)
Posted by: Tina Maskowski | September 11, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Thank you so much for bringing this back....I was so upset when it left the stores in 2007, woo-hoo it's back & Im having it already and loving it!
Texas
Posted by: Stan | September 28, 2009 at 03:56 PM
health aside, i just polished off a jar by myself with some natural yellow corn chips. outstanding, so happy its back.
Posted by: Billy Muhammed | October 15, 2009 at 03:34 PM
Thank you for bringing back the restaurant style salsa. Trying to find a salsa my kids liked was difficult. We tried so many brands. When I saw this back on the shelves I bought 3 jars immediately. Please do not stop making this again!
Posted by: Shannon Q | October 17, 2009 at 01:19 AM
Thank you!!!....Thank you!!!!....Thank you Frito-Lay, for bringing back the BEST salsa on the planet. I used to buy at least 10 jars at a time. When I found out it was being discontinued, I made it a mission to get as many jars as I could find. I have tried every salsa brand since, that there is, and NOTHING came close to your Restaurant Style Salsa.....Everything else tasted like ketchup and veggies.......Or, they made it too salty, or too sweet... or, too thick and pasty. I can't count how many jars of salsa I have thrown out over the last two years. I finally gave up eating salsa. To my surprise, I saw it today for the first time in years, in Waldbaum's....I thought I was having a flashback....except that the label has changed. I bought 4 jars because my husband was with me and he thought I was nuts as it is......You made me a very happy woman!!! I'm glad to know you have brought it back. Tomorrow I'll go and get my back-up jars....LOL
Thanks again...Yipppeeeeee!!!!!!
Posted by: Doris | October 25, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Was SO happy to see this in the grocery again!! Should have NEVER left! Stopped eating salsa from the stores because we couldn't find anything as good...
Posted by: Rebecca | November 30, 2009 at 07:28 PM
they took it away again! what stores can you buy it at?
Posted by: stephanie | December 23, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Stephanie -- never fear, we're still selling it! Use our product locator to find stores near you that carry it: http://www.fritolay.com/our-snacks/where-to-buy.html
Glad you love it as much as we do :) Happy Holidays!
Posted by: Kristin H | December 26, 2009 at 11:59 AM
I just found the Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa at a local grocery and I am delighted!! In my opinion, there's nothing better than the Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa and the Tostitos Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips. This is the best snack ever! Thanks for bringing it back.
Posted by: Lisa | December 29, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Wow, I didn't know that FL brought back the Restaurant Style Salsa. I have not yet seen it on our local shelves in western Virginia. Please tell me where I can find it.
Posted by: Deb | December 31, 2009 at 08:44 PM