PepsiCo invests to expand capacity in 40% in the Country
DCI - 09/02/10
US-based PepsiCo, the global giant of food and drinks, is expanding the productive capacity of its Brazilian units to meet the growth of the demand in Brazil. "With the expansions, the average increase of the production will reach 40%", explains the President of PepsiCo Foods in Brazil, Otto Von Sothen. According to him, meet many categories of foods creates complex processes of investment in the manufacturing of the products, which explains the investments of the company in the manufacturing plants.Among the company's expansion plans in the country are four expansions of production lines and two new plants. The newly built factory in Cachoeira de Itapemirim (ES) is going through processes and systems testing to start operating. The construction of this manufacturing plant of 4.8 thousand square meters of building area were completed last month, with investments of US$ 20 million. The new unit will respond for the production of snacks of the Lucky brand, acquired by the company in 2007 with the objective of penetration in sales between the classes C and D.
The factories of Curitiba (PR), Itu (SP) and Sorocaba (SP) will receive investments for the expansion of their productive capacity, to be concluded still this year. These plants account for the production of snacks, which guarantee to the North American the leadership of the segment in Brazil. Among the plants contemplated with the expansion is the plant of Guarulhos (SP), which will receive investments of 40% for the increase in production capacity of the Toddynho, a chocolate drink, a consolidated brand of the company. Within the US$ 300 million of investments planned for Brazil until 2013 is also the build of a manufacturing unit in Feira de Santana (BA), which will receive US$ 40 million of investments for the production of chocolate-like products. The inauguration of the unit is scheduled for the month of May 2011. According to the chairman of PepsiCo, all the company's investments are made to meet the growing demand.
The company expects to grow at a rate of more than two digits in the country in 2010. Brazil is already the fourth largest market for PepsiCo in the world and contributes to the company's worldwide revenue, which, in 200,9 was of US$ 60 billion. "PepsiCo's businesses in Brazil are growing rapidly. We are investing to expand our supply chain", he says.