PepsiCo Global Chief Ramon Laguarta Sees Massive Growth Opportunity in India; Major Investments Ahead

PepsiCo chairman Ramon Laguarta expressed optimism about the company’s growth prospects in India during a post-earnings analyst call on Friday. He noted that India is a significant growth market for PepsiCo and a key area for investment. In India, PepsiCo sells its concentrate to franchise partner Varun Beverages Ltd (VBL), owned by RJ Corp.

Massive Potential in India

Laguarta emphasised the huge potential in the Indian market, stating, “The opportunity is massive. We are investing in the brands and building the scale needed to meet the high demand we anticipate for many years.”

PepsiCo’s brand portfolio in India includes popular products like Pepsi and Mountain Dew soft drinks, as well as Lays crisps and Kurkure snacks.

Earnings Report Highlights

In its earnings report, PepsiCo mentioned that its Indian unit achieved high single-digit organic revenue growth in the April-June quarter, though specific numbers were not disclosed.

Long-term Commitment to India

Laguarta reiterated the company’s long-term commitment to India, saying, “If you look at it from a decade’s perspective, the opportunity is massive. We are investing heavily in infrastructure and our brands to ensure we can meet the anticipated high demand in the future.”

For the Africa, Middle East, and South Asia regions, PepsiCo reported a 1% volume growth in convenient foods, driven by double-digit growth in India and low single-digit growth in South Africa.