Cool Ranch Doritos have been a beloved snack food since they were first introduced by Frito-Lay in 1986. With their distinctive cool and tangy flavor, these corn chips quickly became a fan favorite. However, in recent years some Doritos lovers have noticed that Cool Ranch flavors seem harder to find in stores, leading some to wonder – did Frito-Lay discontinue Cool Ranch Doritos?
The short answer is no, Frito-Lay has not stopped making Cool Ranch Doritos. However, there have been some changes to the availability and recipe of this iconic snack over the years. By looking at the history of Cool Ranch Doritos and how they are made, we can understand why you may see them less often on store shelves lately.
The Origins of Cool Ranch Doritos
Cool Ranch Doritos first appeared in 1986 as ‘Cooler Ranch’ Doritos. They were inspired by the ranch-flavored salad dressing that was popular at the time. Frito-Lay noticed that Americans were enjoying more Mexican-inspired restaurant dishes and wanted to capitalize on this trend. So they developed a corn chip with the tangy, creamy flavor of ranch dressing.
The chips were first tested in the US states of Oregon and Washington before rolling out across America. Frito-Lay had planned to call them ‘Ranch’ Doritos, but found another company already had a trademark on that term. So they tweaked the name to ‘Cooler Ranch’ instead.
The new Doritos were a big success. In 1987 Frito-Lay shortened the name to ‘Cool Ranch’ which has stuck ever since. Flamin’ Hot and Nacho Cheese Doritos varieties launched around the same time and also became staples of the Doritos brand.
The Rise in Popularity of Cool Ranch Doritos
In the 1990s and 2000s, Cool Ranch Doritos became increasingly popular. By 2009 it was ranked as the second most popular flavor of Doritos behind Nacho Cheese.
Frito-Lay fueled this popularity by using Cool Ranch Doritos as the basis for promotional products. They partnered with Taco Bell to release tacos with Cool Ranch shells. Beginning in 1995, they released Doritos 3D Puffs which were puffed corn snacks flavored with Cool Ranch seasoning.
Limited edition flavors like Guacamole and Spicy Ranch also incorporated the Cool Ranch flavor profile. In the late 1990s Frito-Lay began producing thicker Cool Ranch Doritos known as Doritos X-Tremes. The success of bold flavors like Cool Ranch helped propel Doritos to become one of the most popular snack foods in America.
How Cool Ranch Doritos are Made
The original Cool Ranch Doritos seasoning was made from a combination of herbs, spices, onion, and garlic powders. It delivered the creamy, tangy taste of ranch dressing in crunchy corn chip form. While Frito-Lay keeps the exact recipe proprietary, some of the key flavor ingredients are thought to include:
- Parsley
- Dill
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Maltodextrin
- Salt
- Corn syrup solids
- Cheddar cheese powder
These flavor ingredients are combined into a powdered seasoning blend. To make Cool Ranch Doritos, corn meal is formed into chip shapes then fried into crispy triangles. At seasoning factories the fried tortilla chips pass under large seasoner drums that coat both sides with the Cool Ranch powder.
The two main seasoning factories are located in California and Texas. Seasoning recipes and processes are proprietary secrets kept under tight control by Frito-Lay.
Have Cool Ranch Doritos Been Discontinued?
With this background in mind, have Cool Ranch Doritos been discontinued? There are a few reasons why you may have seen less of them on store shelves in recent years.
Big Changes in 2013
In 2013 Frito-Lay announced they were making changes to the recipe and manufacturing of Cool Ranch Doritos. This led to some significant alterations to the chips.
First, they were made with a new “five faceted” shape. The edges became more rounded rather than the traditional sharp triangles. Frito-Lay claimed this helped strengthen the chips to prevent breakage.
More controversially, the original seasoning mix was reformulated. While still ranch flavored, many Cool Ranch fans argued the recipe changes made them taste too plain and less tangy. There was an outcry from longtime fans who felt the new Doritos lost the boldness of the original flavor.
In addition, Frito-Lay said they were moving half of their seasoning production from California to their facility in Texas. Distribution issues during this transition led to fewer Cool Ranch bags reaching store shelves in some regions in 2013.
So the changes in the recipe and factory changes upset many consumers and temporarily disrupted local supplies. But Frito-Lay insisted they were not cancelling the Cool Ranch variety. They defended the need to keep pace with customer demand and modernize manufacturing.
Continued Production with Better Quality Control
Since 2013 Frito-Lay says they have ironed out the kinks in the updated manufacturing process. While they have stuck with the new shape and seasoning, efforts have been made to improve quality control.
Cool Ranch Doritos continue to be produced at the California and Texas plants. Consumer complaints about weak flavor have fallen as the new processes stabilize. The company remains committed to keeping Cool Ranch in the product line-up as a core flavor.
However, there are now many more Doritos varieties competing for shelf space. Popular new releases like Flamin’ Hot Nacho and Spicy Sweet Chili have pushed some others, like Cool Ranch, into smaller displays. With a “flavor of the week” model prioritizing constant new releases, stores simply don’t have room for all flavors at once anymore.
Availability Still Impacted by Region
Because of differences between regional manufacturing and distribution networks, Cool Ranch availability can also vary greatly across the United States.
For example, some regions may be more likely to get Cool Ranch Doritos shipped from California plants, while others get more supply from the Texas production. If one factory has a production issue, or there is an imbalance between regional supply and demand, stores in certain areas will see more empty shelves.
This can make Cool Ranch Doritos hard to find in certain towns or states. But elsewhere they may remain readily available with no apparent shortage. So experiences finding Cool Ranch can be dramatically different across regions.
The Future of Cool Ranch Doritos
Looking ahead, what is the future of Cool Ranch Doritos? Here is a likely outlook:
- Frito-Lay will continue producing both regular and family size bags of original Cool Ranch Doritos.
- Availability may fluctuate across regions depending on manufacturing and shipping factors.
- New promotional flavors will sometimes be launched with a Cool Ranch seasoning twist.
- The recipe is unlikely to change again soon after the backlash in 2013.
- Discontinued flavors like Jumpin’ Jack Monterey and Baja Picante could return as limited editions.
- Healthier recipe varieties may be explored using alternative ingredients like a bean flour base.
The bottom line is that while you may see less Cool Ranch on shelves than in the past, Frito-Lay remains committed to this classic flavor. It has become an iconic brand that likely won’t be discontinued completely anytime soon. But new product innovations could reshape Cool Ranch Doritos over time.
When to Check Stores for Cool Ranch
If you are having trouble finding your favorite Cool Ranch Doritos locally, here are some tips for when to check back in stores:
- Beginning of summer – Production may ramp up for seasonal demand.
- Back to school season – Chips see heavy in-store displays and promotions.
- Holiday season – Doritos are popular for parties so supply increases.
- Super Bowl – As a top selling chip, inventory builds up.
- Ask staff – They may know when stock is replenished.
- Call ahead – Some stores can look up inventory numbers.
- Order online – Amazon Pantry often stocks hard to find flavors.
Being strategic about when and where you look can help find those elusive blue bags when your Cool Ranch craving strikes.
Conclusion
Cool Ranch Doritos hold a special place in the hearts and stomachs of Doritos fans. So naturally many were worried when they became harder to find on store shelves. But reports of their discontinuation have been exaggerated.
While recipe and manufacturing changes in 2013 had an impact, Frito-Lay remains committed to keeping original Cool Ranch in production. Availability may vary across regions and demand still outstrips supply in some markets. But this tangy and bold corn chip lives on to provide the ultimate taste of ranch anywhere you open a bag.