Pepsi snacks to go on a health diet

Food and beverages major PepsiCo India is transforming its entire snacks portfolio into a healthier category by cutting down fat contents and increasing the nutrients.

"We are in the process of transforming our entire (snacks) portfolio. This is in line with PepsiCo's guidelines of 'better for you', which is offering more healthier choices in all the existing snack categories of Frito-Lay," Frito-Lay India Marketing Director Deepika Warrier told PTI.

As part of the transformation exercise, the company on Tuesday launched a new variant of snack developed for kids --'Cheetos Whoosh Cheesy Bugs', claiming it as a 'healthier' product.

Frito-Lay, the foods division of the cola major PepsiCo, will continue to bring more healthier products under the existing snacks brands, she said, adding, "in Kurkure, we have cut down saturated fat by 40 per cent. Now, in Cheetos Cheesy Bugs, we have made it more innovative and introduced more whole-grain, rich in fiber and proteins and Vitamin A."

The marketing head honcho also informed that PepsiCo started the process of making healthier products last year with its Cheetos Whoosh range, and by reducing saturated fats by as much as 40 per cent in most of its snacks, besides incorporating other healthier ingredients like rice bran oil.

She said Frito-Lay with its entire portfolio has been a dominant player in the around Rs 3,000 crore (Rs 30 billion) domestic snacks market.

Frito-Lay markets various brands like Kurkure, Lays, Uncle Chipps and Aliva among others.

"Frito-Lay has been having double-digit sales growth. We will continue brining in new innovations to keep the growth momentum. The entire snacks market has a huge space, though the kids range are still very limited," she said.

Pepsico had earlier said the company would give a significant focus on research and development to widen its portfolio by bringing in more healthier choices.

"We are focused on R&D, within that, we will be focusing more on healthier choices," PepsiCo India chairman Sanjeev Chadha had said.