INDIA- PepsiCo is currently in the process of a new constructing Lay’s potato chip production plant in India, with an estimated investment of US$95 million.
This new factory is situated in Nalbari, in the northeastern region of Assam, covering an area of 44 acres, and is slated to commence operations in 2025. As part of this project, around 500 jobs will be generated, both directly and indirectly.
The inauguration of this facility took place recently and was attended by Dr. Himanta Sarma, the state Minister, along with Eugene Willemsen, the CEO of PepsiCo’s Africa, Middle East, and South Asia (AMESA) division, and the regional president Ahmed ElSheikh.
An interesting aspect of this venture is PepsiCo’s commitment to promoting gender diversity by pledging to employ a minimum of 75% female staff at the Nalbari plant, which marks the company’s first establishment in Assam.
Willemsen commented, “India is amongst the fastest-growing markets for PepsiCo in the AMESA region, and we are committed to investing in the nation to build capacity. This decade is a decade of India and at PepsiCo, we are focused on building capabilities, availability, and expanding penetration across the nation.”
PepsiCo initially entered the Indian market in 1989 and currently offers a range of products including Quaker breakfast cereals, Kurkure snacks, and beverages like Pepsi, Tropicana, and Gatorade.
Furthermore, Lay’s potato chips produced at the Nalbari plant will rely on locally sourced potatoes, with an expected annual procurement of 50,000 tonnes from Assam state.
Additionally, there are plans for a cold storage facility in the near future, with a capacity of 60,000 tonnes to store these potatoes.
Sustainability is a key focus at the Nalbari plant, with the incorporation of practices such as utilizing 80% renewable energy and sourcing packaging materials locally.
“We are transforming Assam into a preferred state for investment, and I assure PepsiCo of our full support for this greenfield foods manufacturing plant. PepsiCo India aims to offer special training to women of Assam and help them gain new skills, enabling women empowerment in the state,” Minister Sarma remarked.
In a broader context, PepsiCo has also recently announced its return to Indonesia, planning to establish a snack production facility in Cikarang, West Java.
Additionally, the company has announced an expansion of its Lay’s factory in Bangladesh.
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