PepsiCo commissions its largest India beverage unit

The facility was inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and chairman and CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi on Friday. The facility will have nine production lines that will make beverages including fruit and sports/energy drinks and carbonated soft drinks over a period of next five years. “For more than 25 years, PepsiCo has been investing in the Indian economy and its people,’’ Indra Nooyi said.

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“As we move forward, the commitment gets even more stronger. This plant is an investment in India’s future,” she said.

Spread across 86 acres, the first line started manufacturing operations on Friday. When the plant becomes fully operational, it is expected to benefit over 32,000 farmers due to local sourcing of mango and other fruits.

According to Nooyi, the facility built on the lines of global green-building standards is the most water-efficient plant in the country. “We will also work with Sri City for water re-charge and rainwater harvesting projects,” she added.  The company, which has 22 brands in its product portfolio of both food and beverages, had $1 billion in retail sales annually.

Meanwhile, Sri City SEZ located on 8,000 acres, currently houses more than 106 companies and employs over 25,000 people directly. Of the 106 companies, 16 companies are from Japan and nine from the US.