USD95m in PepsiCo Investments for the Nalbari Potato Chips Plant in India

For the development of an India Lay's potato chips facility, PepsiCo will invest USD95m. It is projected that the Nalbari plant, which is 17.8 hectares in size and is located in the northeastern province of Assam, will start operating in 2025. The initiative will result in 500 new direct and indirect jobs.

“Embracing the tide of India's growth is both a privilege and a promise. PepsiCoIndia's first foods manufacturing plant in Assam marks much more than a milestone; it's a tangible testament to our commitment to the country's growth. Backed by an investment of USD95m, this plant is set to be operational by 2025 and holds the potential to create hundreds of jobs, while supporting thousands of farmers, empowering women and local communities. Congratulations to Ahmed ELsheikh and the entire India team for leading this journey. With this PartnershipOfProgress, we reaffirm our unwavering dedication to India's advancement. Our path ahead is clear: building capabilities, expanding presence, and shaping the promise of India. AmazingIndia,” Eugene Willemsen, CEO of Africa, Middle East & South Asia at PepsiCo, wrote on his LinkedIn Page.

According to GlobalData's Just Food, an inauguration ceremony was recently attended by state Minister Dr. Himanta Sarma and Eugene Willemsen, CEO of PepsiCo's Africa, Middle East, and South Asia (AMESA) division, as well as its region president Ahmed ElSheikh.

PepsiCo has vowed to hire “at least” 75% female workers at its Nalbari factory, the company's first in Assam, as part of a local training initiative.

Potatoes for Lay's crisps will be obtained locally, with 50,000 tonnes expected annually from Assam state, and plans for a cold storage facility with a capacity of 60,000 tonnes of potatoes in the next "few" years.

The Nalbari facility will use environmental practices such as 80% renewable electricity and locally sourced packaging materials.

PepsiCo announced its return to Indonesia in August, with intentions to build a food facility in the town of Cikarang, West Java. Bangladesh benefited from the company's investment as well, with a Lay's factory expansion project launched in June.

PepsiCo first entered India in 1989, selling Quaker breakfast cereal, Kurkure snacks, and the beverage brands Pepsi, Tropicana, and Gatorade.