Deal includes popular Los Cuates corn chips as well as potato chips, seeds and nuts

PURCHASE, N.Y., April 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PepsiCo, Inc. today announced that it has acquired leading Peruvian snack business Karinto S.A.C., maker of Peru's top-selling corn chips, Los Cuates, as well as a popular line of nuts and seeds.

"The Karinto brands span a broad array of snack foods, offering consumers a variety of convenient choices, from tasty treats to healthy options," said Olivier Weber, president of South America Foods for PepsiCo. "Strategically, we continue to strengthen our core snacks business as we extend our presence in healthy, macrosnack occasions, two of our global food growth priorities. These products are a perfect complement to PepsiCo's portfolio in the region. The strength of the brands and the quality of people who make and sell them represent fuel for growth in an important emerging market -- a powerful combination."

Karinto and its manufacturing partner Bocaditos Nacionales S.A. were founded together in Lima in 1968, and the companies have been established leaders in corn-based snacks. Today, beyond Los Cuates chips, their broad portfolio includes Fripapas and Papi Frits potato chips and a large range of nutritious snacks, including seeds, raisins, mixed nuts and the number one-selling peanut brand in Peru. The acquisition includes both companies, including two manufacturing plants in Lima, and all of their brands.

The addition of Karinto's snacks reflects PepsiCo's ongoing commitment to transform its portfolio to include a wide range of products, from simple treats to positively nutritious foods.

This transaction also reflects PepsiCo's long-term commitment to invest in South America. It follows the recent acquisition of Brazilian snack company Comercio de Doces Lucky Ltda., maker of the popular brands Torcida and Fofura.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo is one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, with 2008 annual revenues of more than $43 billion. The Company employs approximately 198,000 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.

SOURCE: PepsiCo, Inc.

Web site: http://www.pepsico.com/