PepsiCo, Inc.

What does PepsiCo own?
PepsiCo owns a portfolio of more than 23 billion-dollar brands across beverages, snack foods, and cereals. Key brands include Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Tropicana, Aquafina, SodaStream, Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Fritos, Tostitos, Ruffles, Quaker Oats, Cap'n Crunch, and Poppi. The company also owns international snack brands including Walkers (UK), Sabritas and Gamesa (Mexico), and Smith's (Australia).

Is PepsiCo publicly traded?
Yes, PepsiCo is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker PEP. The company has been listed since 1965 and is one of the largest companies in the S&P 500. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street. PepsiCo is a Dividend Aristocrat, having increased its annual dividend for 54 consecutive years.

Who founded PepsiCo?
PepsiCo was formed in 1965 through the merger of Pepsi-Cola Company, founded by Caleb Bradham in 1898, and Frito-Lay, Inc., formed by Herman Lay in 1932. Bradham was a pharmacist in New Bern, North Carolina, who created Pepsi-Cola. Lay was a potato chip distributor in Nashville, Tennessee, who built a national snack food company.

Where is PepsiCo headquartered?
PepsiCo is headquartered in Purchase, New York, USA. The company's corporate campus in Westchester County, north of New York City, houses its executive offices and many of its North American business units. PepsiCo operates manufacturing facilities and offices across more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

How many brands does PepsiCo own?
PepsiCo owns more than 23 brands that each generate over $1 billion in annual retail sales. The total brand count is significantly higher when including regional and smaller brands. The portfolio spans beverages (Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Tropicana), snack foods (Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Fritos), and cereals (Quaker, Cap'n Crunch, Life).

Who owns PepsiCo?
PepsiCo is a publicly traded company with a dispersed shareholder base. No single shareholder holds a controlling stake. The largest institutional shareholders are Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street. Ramon Laguarta serves as Chairman and CEO, having succeeded Indra Nooyi in 2018.

What is PepsiCo's financial performance?
For FY2025 (ended December 27, 2025), PepsiCo reported net revenue of $93.9 billion, up 2% from $91.9 billion in FY2024. Net income was $8.3 billion, and core EPS was $8.14. Free cash flow was $8.2 billion. The company announced its 54th consecutive annual dividend increase. For FY2026, PepsiCo projects organic revenue growth of 2% to 4% and core constant currency EPS growth of 4% to 6%.

The origins of PepsiCo trace to two separate companies founded decades apart. Caleb Bradham, a pharmacist in New Bern, North Carolina, created a carbonated beverage he called "Brad's Drink" in 1893, which he renamed Pepsi-Cola in 1898. Bradham incorporated Pepsi-Cola Company in 1902. The company went bankrupt twice, in 1923 and 1931, before being acquired by Charles Guth, who rebuilt it as a competitor to Coca-Cola.

Herman Lay founded the H.W. Lay Company in 1932 in Nashville, Tennessee, as a potato chip distributor and manufacturer. The company grew through the American South and eventually merged with the Frito Company in 1961 to form Frito-Lay, Inc.

PepsiCo was formed in 1965 through the merger of Pepsi-Cola Company and Frito-Lay, Inc. The merger created a company with complementary beverage and snack food portfolios and shared distribution capabilities. Donald Kendall, CEO of Pepsi-Cola, and Herman Lay, chairman of Frito-Lay, led the merger.

PepsiCo's acquisition strategy accelerated in the 1970s and 1980s. The company acquired Pizza Hut in 1977 for approximately $300 million, Taco Bell in 1978 for $148 million, and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in 1986 for $840 million, creating a major restaurant division. These restaurant businesses were spun off as Tricon Global Restaurants (later renamed Yum! Brands) in 1997, as PepsiCo refocused on its core food and beverage businesses.

The acquisition of Tropicana in 1998 for approximately $3.3 billion added a major juice brand to PepsiCo's portfolio. In 2001, PepsiCo acquired Quaker Oats Company for approximately $13.8 billion, a deal that brought Gatorade (the dominant sports drink brand), Quaker cereals, and other food brands into the portfolio. The Quaker acquisition was one of the most significant in PepsiCo's history, as Gatorade became one of the company's most valuable brands.

PepsiCo acquired SodaStream, the home carbonation company, in 2018 for approximately $3.2 billion, signaling the company's interest in at-home beverage preparation. In 2022, PepsiCo acquired Poppi, a prebiotic soda brand, for approximately $1.95 billion, reflecting the company's interest in functional beverages.

In 2024, PepsiCo faced a voluntary recall of certain Quaker Oats bars and cereals due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recall affected products produced at the company's Danville, Illinois facility and resulted in property, plant, and equipment write-offs, employee severance costs, and other associated expenses.

For full-year 2025, PepsiCo reported net revenue of $93.9 billion, up 2% from $91.9 billion in 2024. Net income was $8.3 billion, down from $9.6 billion in 2024, reflecting the impact of the Quaker recall and other one-time charges. Core operating profit was $14.9 billion, and core EPS was $8.14. The company announced its 54th consecutive annual dividend increase in February 2026.

PepsiCo's sustainability strategy is guided by its pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) framework, which integrates environmental responsibility, social impact, and economic viability across the company's global operations. The framework focuses on three pillars: Positive Agriculture, Positive Value Chain, and Positive Choices.

Climate action includes emissions reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). PepsiCo aims to achieve net-zero emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3 by 2040, with interim 2030 targets including reducing absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 75% for Scope 1 and 2, and 40% for Scope 3 from a 2015 baseline. The company's Climate Transition Plan aligns with SBTi sectoral guidance for Forests, Land, and Agriculture (FLAG) and Energy and Industry (E&I) emissions.

Regenerative agriculture is a core component of the strategy. PepsiCo expanded its goal to drive regenerative practices across 10 million acres of land used to grow crops and ingredients by 2030, up from the previous 7 million acre target. The company works with farmers to implement practices that improve soil health, biodiversity, and water conservation.

Sustainable packaging initiatives focus on circular economy principles. PepsiCo commits to using 100% recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable packaging across its portfolio and increasing recycled content in packaging materials. The company has faced criticism from environmental groups about the pace of progress on plastic reduction.

Water stewardship programs address water security in high-risk areas across PepsiCo's agricultural supply chain and manufacturing operations. The company implements water efficiency measures, replenishment projects, and watershed protection initiatives in water-stressed regions.

PepsiCo is not a Certified B Corporation. The company publishes an annual ESG Summary Report, which serves as a first-party source and should be distinguished from independent certification.

PepsiCo has received consistent independent recognition for corporate performance:

• Fortune World's Most Admired Companies (2025): Ranked among the top companies in the food and consumer products category, recognized for innovation, people management, and social responsibility
• Kantar PowerRanking (2025): Ranked as the #1 supplier for the 10th consecutive year, based on retailer surveys measuring excellence in commercial partnerships
• Dow Jones Sustainability Index: Consistent inclusion in DJSI for food and beverage companies, assessed on ESG performance
• CDP Climate Disclosure: Multiple years of recognition for climate disclosure and environmental performance
• Forbes America's Best Large Employers (2024): Recognition based on employee surveys

PepsiCo has faced criticism from public health advocates regarding the nutritional content of its products, particularly sugary beverages and high-sodium snack foods. The company has responded by expanding its portfolio of lower-calorie and reduced-sodium products and committing to reduce added sugars and sodium across its portfolio. Several jurisdictions have implemented soda taxes that affect PepsiCo products, including Mexico (2014), the UK (2018), and select US cities.

In 2017, PepsiCo withdrew a Pepsi advertisement featuring model Kendall Jenner after widespread criticism that the ad trivialized social justice movements. The company issued a public apology and pulled the ad within 48 hours of its release.

In 2024, PepsiCo conducted a voluntary recall of certain Quaker Oats bars and cereals produced at its Danville, Illinois facility due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recall resulted in property write-offs, severance costs, and other expenses that affected the QFNA segment's financial performance for the year. The company worked with the FDA on the recall and implemented enhanced food safety protocols at the facility.

PepsiCo has faced scrutiny regarding plastic packaging waste and water usage in water-stressed regions. Environmental groups including Break Free From Plastic have consistently named PepsiCo among the top global plastic polluters in annual brand audits. The company has committed to reducing virgin plastic use and improving recyclability as part of its pep+ packaging goals.

The company has also faced criticism over marketing to children, particularly in schools and through digital media. PepsiCo has implemented responsible marketing guidelines and is a participant in the Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI).