Fandangos

Fandangos is a Brazilian puffed-corn snack brand associated with Elma Chips, the Brazilian representative of Frito-Lay and a PepsiCo subsidiary. The product was introduced in 1983 with a corn-based snack shaped like a shell. Its format positioned it as a local counterpart to the broader Cheetos-style extruded-snack category, while its branding, flavors, and marketing were tailored to Brazilian consumers. The brand initially appeared in a corn flavor and soon became a prominent snack in Brazil, reportedly achieving popularity comparable to Cheetos among Brazilian consumers. Cheese and ham became its best-known traditional flavor variants. Over time, the line also included temporary or limited flavors such as steak, pizza, barbecue, and additional corn variants. A popcorn-themed extension, Fandangos Pipoca, was offered in butter and barbecue versions, while Fandoce represented a sweet interpretation of the brand with chocolate and churro flavors. Fandangos is also distinguished by its mascot, Spiguy, whose name is sometimes written as Spiggy. The character was introduced in 1993, a year before Chester Cheetah was introduced in Brazil. In its original presentation, Spiguy had the conventional appearance of a scarecrow, including a straw hat. From 2005, the character was redesigned with a more youthful, teenage-oriented appearance and a green baseball cap. This change reflects the brand's effort to keep its visual identity relevant to younger consumers while retaining a recognizable link to its earlier packaging and advertising. The brand has expanded beyond its original corn flavor through both enduring and experimental products. In 2017, a version made with whole flour was sold, adding a distinct formulation to the portfolio. The available reference material does not establish whether every historical flavor or product extension remains commercially available, nor does it provide current sales, ownership-structure, headquarters, or standalone financial information. Fandangos is best understood as a Brazil-focused packaged-snack brand within PepsiCo's wider Frito-Lay portfolio rather than as an independent company.

Fandangos was introduced in Brazil in 1983 by Elma Chips, the Brazilian Frito-Lay business that operates within PepsiCo. Its initial product was a puffed-corn snack in a shell-like form and a corn flavor. The design placed Fandangos within the extruded-corn-snack category while giving it a distinctive shape and a locally recognizable brand identity. The brand gained broad recognition in Brazil and became associated with two enduring savory flavors: cheese and ham. These core variants formed the foundation of the line, while other flavors appeared periodically as limited or temporary offerings. The documented examples include steak, pizza, barbecue, and additional corn versions. The portfolio also included Fandangos Pipoca, a popcorn-oriented variant offered in butter and barbecue flavors, and Fandoce, a sweet version made in chocolate and churro flavors. A major identity element was added in 1993 with the introduction of Spiguy, a scarecrow mascot. The character's name is occasionally rendered as Spiggy. Spiguy initially used a traditional scarecrow design and wore a straw hat. In 2005, the character was given a more teenage appearance, including a green baseball cap. The redesign maintained continuity with the original mascot while giving the brand a more contemporary visual style. Spiguy's introduction preceded the arrival of Chester Cheetah in Brazil by one year, placing the character within the competitive context of branded corn snacks in that market. In 2017, Fandangos was also sold in a whole-flour version, demonstrating an effort to vary the product's formulation beyond its established puffed-corn base. The available sources do not document the full commercial history of each flavor, distribution figures, advertising expenditure, or current availability. They also do not establish a standalone corporate entity for Fandangos: the brand is described as an Elma Chips product and therefore belongs to PepsiCo's broader Frito-Lay snack structure. Its documented history is consequently the history of a Brazilian packaged-snack brand whose identity has been built through product variety, recognizable shapes, and mascot-led branding.

• 2017

  Whole-flour version sold

  [1]Fandangos (snack)en.wikipedia.org

  A Fandangos version made with whole flour was sold.

• 2005

  Mascot redesign

  [1]Fandangos (snack)en.wikipedia.org

  Spiguy's traditional scarecrow styling was updated with a more youthful look and a green baseball cap.

• 1993

  Spiguy mascot introduced

  [1]Fandangos (snack)en.wikipedia.org

  The brand introduced Spiguy, a scarecrow mascot whose name is also sometimes spelled Spiggy.

• 1983

  Brand introduction

  [1]Fandangos (snack)en.wikipedia.org

  Fandangos was introduced in Brazil as a puffed-corn snack in a shell-like shape and corn flavor.

A mass-market Brazilian puffed-corn snack brand built around playful shapes, familiar savory flavors, and a youth-oriented mascot identity.

• Puffed-corn snack · 1983

  Fandangos

  The original Fandangos product is a puffed-corn snack with a shell-like shape. It was introduced in a corn flavor and later became especially associated with cheese and ham variants. The product is positioned as a packaged savory snack and is produced within the Elma Chips/Frito-Lay structure in Brazil.

• Popcorn-style snack

  Fandangos Pipoca

  Fandangos Pipoca is a popcorn-themed extension of the brand. Documented flavor versions include butter and barbecue. The available reference does not establish its launch date or whether the variants remain in regular production.

• Sweet snack

  Fandoce

  Fandoce is a sweet interpretation of the Fandangos line. Documented flavors include chocolate and churro, distinguishing it from the brand's more familiar savory cheese, ham, and barbecue products.

• Puffed-corn snack · 2017

  Whole-flour Fandangos

  A whole-flour version of Fandangos was sold in 2017. The available source identifies the formulation change but does not provide further nutritional, distribution, or lifecycle details.

1. 1Fandangos (snack)en.wikipedia.org