MEXICO CITY, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PepsiCo Americas Foods CEO John C. Compton announced today that PepsiCo businesses and brands would invest up to $3 billion US dollars in Mexico over the next several years to enable growth of its Sabritas and Gamesa foods businesses and its portfolio of beverage brands.

Approximately $2 billion US of the investment includes funding for R&D, manufacturing and distribution, marketing and advertising activities for the Company's foods businesses in the Mexican marketplace over the next five years. Part of that investment will support the introduction of Mexican key-traditional brands to the U.S. market. Approximately $1 billion would support marketing and advertising activities for the Pepsi beverage system across the country over the next three years.

With more than 40,000 employees in Mexico, PepsiCo is among the largest employers in the country. Additionally, PepsiCo's operations in Mexico indirectly support an estimated 500,000 jobs.

Mr. Compton reiterated the Company's long-term commitment to growth in Mexico at an event with PepsiCo executives in Mexico City. "For the last 100 years, Mexico has been a key market for PepsiCo, and today's news is the latest proof that we will continue to invest for growth here," said Compton. "From the jobs we provide to the economic impact we have in the economy and through agriculture, PepsiCo's businesses in Mexico have developed great consumer loyalty to their brands -- built through decades of investment."

Recent results of a study conducted by Millward Brown and HSM show the power of the company's brands in Mexico. Sabritas was identified as the country's #2 brand across all industries. Sabritas also recently earned third place in the social corporate responsibility category as a result of its Desempeno con Sentido (Performance with Purpose) sustainability strategy.

    Economic Impact of PepsiCo in Mexico

    -- 40,000 direct jobs and an estimated 500,000 indirect jobs.
    -- Support to farmers and small businesses / direct benefits to more than
       1,000,000 families.
    -- 60 production centers.
    -- 22 manufacturing plants across the country.
    -- 667 distribution centers and more than 19,000 sales routes.
    -- Significant investments and research in agriculture.
    -- Provides training and acknowledgement to its suppliers to promote
       healthy competition and strengthen quality, productivity and
       innovation.
    -- The company's annual potato use is 230,000 tons, representing 22% of
       potato production in Mexico.
    -- Gamesa is the largest soft wheat consumer in Mexico, using
       approximately 330,000 tons of domestic wheat each year, which
       represents 30% of the nationally sowed soft wheat.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo is one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, with 2007 annual revenues of more than $39 billion. The company employs approximately 185,000 people worldwide, and its products are sold in approximately 200 countries. Its principal businesses include: Frito-Lay snacks, Pepsi-Cola beverages, Gatorade sports drinks, Tropicana juices and Quaker foods. The PepsiCo portfolio includes 18 brands that generate $1 billion or more each in annual retail sales. PepsiCo's commitment to sustainable growth, defined as Performance with Purpose, is focused on generating healthy financial returns while giving back to communities the company serves. This includes meeting consumer needs for a spectrum of convenient foods and beverages, reducing the company's impact on the environment through water, energy and packaging initiatives, and supporting its employees through a diverse and inclusive culture that recruits and retains world-class talent. PepsiCo is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index and the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

Cautionary Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements of expected future developments. These forward-looking statements reflect management's expectations and are based on currently available data; however, actual results are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could materially affect actual performance. Risks and uncertainties that could affect our future performance include, but are not limited to, the following: competition, including product and pricing pressures; changing trends in consumer tastes; changes in our relationship and/or support programs between brand owners and anchor bottlers; market acceptance of new product and package offerings; weather conditions; cost and availability of raw materials; changing legislation; outcomes of environmental claims and litigation; availability and cost of capital including changes in our debt ratings; labor and employee benefit costs; unfavorable interest rate and currency fluctuations; costs of legal proceedings; and general economic, business and political conditions in the countries and territories where we operate. Any forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with information about risks and uncertainties set forth in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by PepsiCo.

SOURCE PepsiCo, Inc.
CONTACT: Dick Detwiler, PepsiCo, Purchase, NY, +1-914-253-2725,
dick.detwiler@pepsi.com/