At PepsiCo, innovation goes beyond being a mere buzzword; it’s embedded in our DNA. Today, we proudly introduce one of our most significant breakthroughs yet: Simply NKD™. This initiative reimagines our beloved Doritos® and Cheetos® flavors, utilizing no artificial flavors, no dyes, and absolutely no color.
“Rest assured, our iconic Cheetos and Doritos remain unchanged. NKD is an additive option, not a replacement, introduced to meet consumer demand,” asserts Rachel Ferdinando, CEO of PepsiCo Foods U.S. She emphasizes, “This move underscores our commitment to flavor leadership — proving our taste stays strong even without visual cues. More choices, same flavor, same brand power.”
Our journey began with a bold question: What if we stripped our most iconic snacks down to their essentials?
Doritos has always embraced daring flavors, while Cheetos embodies mischief. Now, Simply NKD™ pushes that innovative spirit even further, offering the same craveable flavors fans have come to love — but without any unnecessary additives.
In just eight weeks, PepsiCo’s world-class R&D teams transformed a bold idea into reality. They achieved what many considered impossible: big, bold, best-in-class flavor with no color and no artificial ingredients.
The outcome? Same crunch. Same flavor. Same joy. Zero color.
“No color, no artificial flavors, same intensity — that’s Simply NKD,” states Hernán Tantardini, CMO of PepsiCo Foods U.S. He continues, “We’re reinventing our most iconic brands to provide fans with the bold flavors they love, now reimagined with clean simplicity.”
What’s Going NKD?
The debut Simply NKD™ lineup includes:
- Doritos® Simply NKD™ Nacho Cheese
- Doritos® Simply NKD™ Cool Ranch®
- Cheetos® Simply NKD™ Puffs
- Cheetos® Simply NKD™ Flamin’ Hot®