Table of Contents
PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo Inc. has set long-term targets for making its food and beverage products healthier and more nutritious.
PepsiCO said Monday that the new goals, part of its global sustainability agenda, reflect the latest dietary guidelines of the World Health Organization and other authorities. Plans call for the company to continue to refine its food and beverage offerings by reducing added sugars, saturated fat and sodium levels.
By 2025, PepsiCo aims to have at least two-thirds of its global beverage portfolio volume with 100 calories or fewer from added sugars per 12-oz. serving. Also in that time frame, the company is looking to have at least three-quarters of its global food portfolio volume not exceed 1.1 grams of saturated fat per 100 calories and 1.3 milligrams of sodium per calorie.
PepsiCo plans to lower added sugar mainly by reformulating carbonated soft drinks and investing to create new low- and no-calorie beverages, according to its sustainability report. In addition, the company will launch smaller pack sizes for its full-sugar carbonated soft drinks and boosting promotion of lower-calorie beverages and those with fewer added sugars.
To reduce fat content, PepsiCo said it aims to use oils with lower saturated fat, such as high oleic sunflower and canola oils, and employ new cooking methods. Along similar lines, the company will scale back sodium levels by creating new recipes and ways to season foods and by exploring salt-reduction methods and technologies, such as using smaller salt particles to enhance taste while reducing a product’s overall level of salt.
PepsiCo noted that another linchpin of its strategy is helping to improve consumers’ health and wellness through the products it sells. To that end, the company aims to ramp up the sales growth rate of its “Everyday Nutrition” products — those that deliver whole grains, fruit and vegetables, dairy, protein and hydration — to outpace the sales growth in the rest of its product portfolio.
Specifically, PepsiCo will work to boost positive nutrition by expanding its portfolio containing ingredients like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, dairy, protein and hydration. The company said it also will use its global nutrition brands —
Tropicana, Quaker, Naked and Gatorade — to develop more locally relevant and affordable nutrition products, as well as find more ways to provide Everyday Nutrition products, such as through its Hello Goodness vending machines and Food for Good initiative.
PepsiCo, too, plans to provide access to at least 3 billion servings of nutritious foods and beverages to underserved communities and consumers through a range of channels and programs supported by the PepsiCo Foundation, with a sharper focus on products that are locally sourced and produced.
“We are reducing added sugars, saturated fat and salt in many of our products, while continuing to expand our lineup of
nutritious foods and beverages to meet growing consumer demand,” chairman and chief executive officer Indra Nooyi stated in the sustainability report.
The company also has reaffirmed its commitment to deliver on its global labeling and responsible advertising to children policies and to support industry actions in these areas.
PepsiCo food and beverage products are sold in more than 200 countries and territories. With sales of more than $63 billion in 2015, the company’s leading brands include Pepsi-Cola, Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Quaker and Tropicana, and its overall product portfolio has 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
