Pepsico May Witness 12% Decline In Growth This Year

PepsiCo Beverages India Ltd, the soft drinks major, is expected to register a 12 per cent drop in growth this year because of occasional showers in peak summer months.

Sales at PepsiCo have declined from 25 per cent in 1998 to around 15 per cent last year. The company registered a Rs 2,500 crore turnover in 2000-01. PepsiCo is also expecting a 30 per cent growth for its snacks segment which registered a Rs 200 crore turnover last year.

The company has also signed Kareena Kapoor, Fardeen Khan and the TV actor Amar Upadhaya as brand ambassadors for a series of commercials that will soon be launched.

 

Meanwhile, PepsiCo has readied a new mixed fruit pure juice Tropicana, which will be launched shortly. The fruit juice will be available in 200 ml tetra pack and one litre bottles.

It has recently launched Tropicana tomato juice locally. PepsiCo has already garnered 40 per cent of the market and plans to emerge the clear leader with a number of new products in the near future.

After the success of Mirinda Apple, PepsiCo has a lead over rivals in the segment, claimed company sources. It was exploring the possibility of launching few new flavours in the soft drink segment as well as other beverages that are popular in the United States of America.

"For example, Pepsi is the largest seller of cold coffee - Frappicino, in the US," said a senior executive from the company. The company is also evaluating the possibility of launching products like bottled green tea 'Brisk tea' and its variants.

Isotonic and sports drink are also on the list. PepsiCo has recently taken over a $ 3 billion sports drink brand Gatorade from Quaker Oats Inc in the US and therefore the possibility of introducing one in India is also being studied.

On the cards is also a few new Lehar innovation range of items that the company intends to launch soon.

Meanwhile, the company has made available all its soft drinks including Aquafina in 500 ml PET bottle to give sales a big push. "Given the price and the volume we offer in larger packs, sales will definitely receive a boost," explained the official, adding, "Pepsi would be like to be leaders in every segment we will also try and emerge the quality leader in every segment that we enter into."