PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta Meets PM Modi
Global CEO meets PM, pledges long-term investment.
PepsiCo Global CEO and Chairman Ramon Laguarta met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday during a three-day visit to India, reinforcing the company’s deep commitment to the Indian market. Accompanied by PepsiCo India CEO Jagrut Kotecha and members of the global executive committee, Laguarta discussed expanding collaboration in manufacturing, sustainability, innovation, and community development.
This marks Laguarta’s second trip to India in six months, underscoring India’s status as a key “anchor market” for the snacks and beverages giant. In a LinkedIn post, PepsiCo highlighted the meeting as a step toward strengthening its long-term investment strategy in India. “We are honored to explore opportunities with the Prime Minister to drive growth and impact,” the post stated.
PepsiCo is doubling down on its presence in India with significant investments, including a new foods plant in Assam and a concentrate plant in Madhya Pradesh. The company has also recently established a greenfield snacks facility near Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, to bolster its production capacity for brands like Lay’s, Kurkure, Cheetos, and Quaker Oats.
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The meeting comes amid recent GST reforms, effective September 22, which reduced the tax rate on food products, including snacks, from 12% to 5%. This change is expected to boost PepsiCo’s snacks business. However, the beverage segment faces challenges, with GST rates on beverages like Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Mirinda, 7UP, Sting, Aquafina, Tropicana, and Slice rising from 28% to 40% due to an additional 12% sin tax. The company reported a decline in its beverages business in the June 2025 quarter, despite its India Holdings Pvt Ltd posting a consolidated revenue of ₹9,096.62 crore in 2024.
Laguarta’s first-ever meeting with Modi signals PepsiCo’s confidence in India’s growth potential. The company aims to leverage India’s evolving economic landscape to expand its footprint while aligning with national priorities like sustainability and community development. As PepsiCo continues to invest in new facilities and innovation, its commitment to India remains a cornerstone of its global strategy.
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