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A janitor making $4/hour walked into a Fortune 500 company boardroom. Shaking, he took a seat opposite the CEO.
"So I had an idea..." he nervously began.
Years later, that idea would become an iconic consumer brand and make him worth ~$20M.
Here's how that meeting went
"So I had an idea..." he nervously began.
Years later, that idea would become an iconic consumer brand and make him worth ~$20M.
Here's how that meeting went
1) Richard Montañez grew up in Cucamonga Valley, California, sharing a one-room cinderblock hut with 14 family members.
He dreaded school. Barely able to speak English, he’d cry to his mother as she was getting him ready for class.
He dreaded school. Barely able to speak English, he’d cry to his mother as she was getting him ready for class.
2) When asked, all other students in class would eagerly shout out their dream job: Astronaut, Doctor, Racecar driver.
Richard had nothing to say. “There was no dream where I came from.”
Richard had nothing to say. “There was no dream where I came from.”
3) He dropped out of school in 4th grade and took odd jobs at farms and factories to help make ends meet.
Some years later in 1976, a neighbor let him know of a job opening for a factory janitor at the Frito-Lay plant down the road. The $4/hour pay was more than he'd ever made.
Some years later in 1976, a neighbor let him know of a job opening for a factory janitor at the Frito-Lay plant down the road. The $4/hour pay was more than he'd ever made.
4) As he was getting ready for his first day of work, his grandfather pulled him aside and said:
“Make sure that floor shines. And let them know that a Montañez mopped it.”
“Make sure that floor shines. And let them know that a Montañez mopped it.”
5) Richard made it his mission to be the best janitor Frito-Lay had ever seen.
He spent his off-time learning about the company's products, manufacturing, marketing and more. He even asked salesmen to tag along and watch them sell.
He spent his off-time learning about the company's products, manufacturing, marketing and more. He even asked salesmen to tag along and watch them sell.
6) In the mid-1980s Frito-Lay started to struggle. The CEO announced a new initiative to all 300,000 employees. “Act like an owner” Trying to empower them to work more creatively and efficiently.
Montañez listened.
Montañez listened.
7) Then, he called the CEO.
“Mr. Enrico’s office. Who is this?”
“Richard Montañez, in California”
“You’re the VP overseeing CA?”
“No, I work at the Rancho Cucamonga plant.”
“Oh, so you’re the VP of Ops?”
“No, I work inside the plant.”
“You’re the manager?”
“No. I’m the janitor.”
“Mr. Enrico’s office. Who is this?”
“Richard Montañez, in California”
“You’re the VP overseeing CA?”
“No, I work at the Rancho Cucamonga plant.”
“Oh, so you’re the VP of Ops?”
“No, I work inside the plant.”
“You’re the manager?”
“No. I’m the janitor.”
8) The CEO got on the line. Loving the initiative, he told Richard to prepare a presentation, and he set a meeting in 2 weeks time.
Stunned, Richard ran to the library and picked up a book on marketing strategies. Then, he started prepping.
Stunned, Richard ran to the library and picked up a book on marketing strategies. Then, he started prepping.
9) 2 weeks later, he entered that boardroom.
After taking a moment to catch his breath, he started telling them what he'd learned about Frito-Lay and the idea he'd been working on.
After taking a moment to catch his breath, he started telling them what he'd learned about Frito-Lay and the idea he'd been working on.
10) “I saw there was no product catering to Latinos.”
On the sales trips he shadowed he saw that in Latino neighborhoods Lays, Fritos, Ruffles, and Cheetos, were stocked right next to a shelf of Mexican spices. Frito-Lay had nothing spicy or hot.
On the sales trips he shadowed he saw that in Latino neighborhoods Lays, Fritos, Ruffles, and Cheetos, were stocked right next to a shelf of Mexican spices. Frito-Lay had nothing spicy or hot.
11) The Latino market was ready to explode, Monteñez explained.
Inspired by elote - a Mexican street corn covered in spices - Richard had created his own snack
He pulled out 100 plastic baggies. He had taken Cheetos from the factory and coated them in his own mix of spices
Inspired by elote - a Mexican street corn covered in spices - Richard had created his own snack
He pulled out 100 plastic baggies. He had taken Cheetos from the factory and coated them in his own mix of spices
12) He’d even sealed the bags with a clothing iron, and had hand drawn a logo on each one.
The room went silent.
After a few moments, the CEO spoke, “Put that mop away, you’re coming with us”
The room went silent.
After a few moments, the CEO spoke, “Put that mop away, you’re coming with us”
13) Flamin’ Hot Cheetos became one of the most successful launches in Frito-Lay history. They went on to become a viral, pop-culture sensation.
Richard became a VP and amassed a $20M fortune.
Not bad for a boy from Cucamonga.
Richard became a VP and amassed a $20M fortune.
Not bad for a boy from Cucamonga.
Sharing some sources here for those who want to read more!
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/27/a-janitor-invented-flamin-hot-cheetos-and-became-a-pepsico-exec.html
https://thehustle.co/hot-cheetos-inventor/
https://www.newsweek.com/flamin-hot-cheeto-movie-true-story-creator-richard-montanez-1456377
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/27/a-janitor-invented-flamin-hot-cheetos-and-became-a-pepsico-exec.html
https://thehustle.co/hot-cheetos-inventor/
https://www.newsweek.com/flamin-hot-cheeto-movie-true-story-creator-richard-montanez-1456377
