With new Assam unit, PepsiCo eyes India as one of its top 10 global anchor markets
The multinational company’s foods manufacturing plant in Nalbari district, spread across 44.2 acres, will cover 80,000 smallholder farmers through agri-entrepreneurs
PepsiCo, a food and beverage manufacturer, has opened its first foods factory in the Northeast region of India, specifically in Nalbari district's Danguapara, to position India as one of its top 10 global anchor markets. The 44.2-acre unit is PepsiCo's fifth foods manufacturing plant in India and is part of the company's investment commitment through 2030.
PepsiCo India and South Asia's CEO, Jagrut Kotecha, highlighted the facility as a significant milestone in Assam's industrial growth story, underscoring the company's confidence in Assam's business-friendly policies, infrastructure development, and skilled workforce. Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, also welcomed the plant, emphasizing PepsiCo's commitment to ensuring that more than 75% of its 700 direct employees are women.
The company aims to place India among its top 10 markets by focusing on Assam, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu operations driven by an investment strategy to expand local production. PepsiCo faced an initial challenge when it looked east from West Bengal three years ago, as potatoes grown by farmers in Assam were not of chip-grade quality.
However, by training 600 farmers across 14 districts to grow chip-grade potatoes through agri-entrepreneurs, PepsiCo upgraded the skills of its partners. The Nalbari facility also plans to drive demand for more cold storage capacity, strengthening Assam's agricultural infrastructure and potato value chain.
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