PepsiCo beverage business news, company profile, analysis, comment and interviews

Vital Pharmaceuticals files lawsuit against PepsiCo in Bang Energy distribution feud

3 Dec 2020

An acrimonious fall-out between Bang Energy owner Vital Pharmaceuticals (VPX) and distributor PepsiCo has escalated, with VPX filing a lawsuit against the soft drinks giant.

PepsiCo makes Pepsi recycled plastic pledge for Europe

2 Dec 2020

PepsiCo's Pepsi is to be packaged in 100% recycled plastic bottles in nine European markets by 2022.

PepsiCo adds SodaStream to UEFA Champions League sponsorship renewal

1 Dec 2020

PepsiCo has secured another extension to its marketing tie-up with UEFA's Champions League football competition in Europe, adding three more seasons to the current arrangement.

PepsiCo's dividend increase highlights successful response to COVID-19 in 2020 - analysis

30 Nov 2020

Earlier this month, PepsiCo declared a quarterly dividend increase versus the same time last year, at a time when many companies have cancelled dividends altogether in 2020.

PepsiCo recruits Snoop Dogg for SodaStream global push - video

20 Nov 2020

Snoop Dogg has added yet another beverage string to his bow, fronting a worldwide activation for PepsiCo's SodaStream division.

Biden victory gives new impetus to drinks industry engagement on climate change - Sustainability Spotlight

19 Nov 2020

Ben Cooper assesses the impact of Joe Biden's election victory in the US on drinks companies' efforts to address climate change.

AG Barr says US$10m farewell to Rockstar Energy Beverages

19 Nov 2020

AG Barr has received compensation for the termination of its UK tie-up with Rockstar Energy Beverages.

Vital Pharmaceuticals "fires" PepsiCo as Bang Energy distributor

18 Nov 2020

The owner of Bang Energy has launched a scathing attack on PepsiCo after terminating a distribution partnership between the two companies after just seven months.

Bang Energy's explosive fall-out with PepsiCo throws spotlight on coffee versus energy - comment

18 Nov 2020

There is a certain lop-sidedness to the announcement of distribution deals. When signed, they are accompanied by press releases packed with fulsome praise. Less fanfare is produced for their termination, a process that often takes place quietly and behind closed doors.

Pietro Antonio Tataranni moves up to chief medical officer at PepsiCo

18 Nov 2020

PepsiCo has promoted internally for its next chief medical officer.

PepsiCo eyes "comfort and nostalgia" with US Pepsi Apple Pie launch

17 Nov 2020

PepsiCo is looking to target trends for at-home baking with the launch of a limited-edition apple-pie-flavoured variant of flagship CSD Pepsi.

PepsiCo unveils easier-to-pour two-litre bottle amid at-home focus

16 Nov 2020

PepsiCo has overhauled its two-litre bottle offering in the US as increased at-home consumption makes the format more important to soft drinks companies.

PepsiCo launches cross-brand sustainability effort in US

13 Nov 2020

PepsiCo's US beverage unit has lined up its first cross-branded sustainability initiative in the company, with a focus on encouraging consumers to recycle more.

Ex-Tesco CEO Dave Lewis added to PepsiCo board

4 Nov 2020

The former CEO of UK-based multiple retailer Tesco has been recruited by PepsiCo to join its board of directors.

How COVID has changed consumers' demands and soft drinks is adapting its innovation - comment

3 Nov 2020

From range rationalisation to investment in larger formats and work around direct-to-consumer, the pandemic has shifted the innovation focus for soft drinks companies. Lucy Britner delves further.

Fresh lockdowns put drinks industry rebound at risk - Moody's

30 Oct 2020

The global beverage industry is poised to rebound from "unprecedented declines" this year to post as much as low-double-digit profit growth in 2021, a new report from credit-rating agency Moody's has forecast.

Are beverage firms paying enough attention to deforestation? - sustainability spotlight

22 Oct 2020

A new initiative to address deforestation was launched last month by the Consumer Goods Forum involving 17 major manufacturers and retailers - but no drinks companies. Ben Cooper explores whether the beverage sector needs to do more in the area of deforestation.

Will Q3 bring an end to 2020's hangover, are the softs going hard and would Stock Spirits fancy a beer? - The just-drinks Analyst

20 Oct 2020

The timing of Ian Shackleton's latest consideration of the drinks industry couldn't be better. With the latest results season breaking all around us, who better to survey the situation than just-drinks' in-house analyst?

PepsiCo taps into COVID trends with Propel Immune Support launch - just-drinks comment

20 Oct 2020

PepsiCo has launched an extension of its Propel bottled water brand in the US that claims to boost immune systems.

PepsiCo to invest $170m in Hispanic businesses, promote diversity

19 Oct 2020

PepsiCo is to spend US$170m on an initiative to increase the representation of the Hispanic community across its US business.

PepsiCo unveils Bubly Drops for SodaStream

9 Oct 2020

PepsiCo is to launch its Bubly zero-sugar sparkling flavoured water brand on the SodaStream platform in the US.

Why bottled water should tap into more drinking occasions - comment

6 Oct 2020

Our soft drinks category commentator, Lucy Britner, turns her attention this month to bottled water - and spies some burgeoning growth opportunities.

The Coca-Cola Co pulls plug on Zico coconut water, reviews Coke Life

5 Oct 2020

The Coca-Cola Co is to discontinue coconut water brand Zico as the group's response to declining sales ramps up.

PepsiCo "reflecting" on alcohol launch - CEO

5 Oct 2020

PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta has said the company will decide in "the coming quarters" if it wants to launch alcoholic beverages.

Beverages post "significant improvement" for PepsiCo in Q3

2 Oct 2020

PepsiCo's North America drinks division has seen its latest set of results return to growth after a tough prior period.

Mental health concerns to drive functional beverages in Europe - Nestle Waters

29 Sep 2020

Functional beverages that support mental health will find growth in Europe as they move across from the US, a Nestle Waters innovation expert has forecast.