PepsiCo to open Saudi R&D flavour factory as it takes investment to $2.4bn
Drinks and snack giant PepsiCo has announced plans to open a regional headquarters and R&D centre in Saudi Arabia.
PepsiCo has inaugurated its new and expanded Regional Headquarters for the Middle East in Riyadh's King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD).
The headquarters spans 2,800sq m and has capacity for more than 150 employees.
PepsiCo opens Saudi HQ
Ahmed El Sheikh, President and General Manager for Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan Foods at PepsiCo, said: 'PepsiCo has been a partner in the Middle East for nearly 70 years, and the Kingdom remains at the heart of our growth strategy.
'Our new RHQ in Riyadh signals our firm and long-term commitment to this region's future and its people – through job creation, agricultural partnerships, social impact and environmental stewardship.'
PepsiCo has invested more than SR9bn ($2.4bn) in Saudi Arabia over the last eight years, including SR199m ($53m) in 2023 in expanding its Dammam facility.
Today, PepsiCo operates across 86 locations in the Kingdom and, together with its franchise partners, employs nearly 9,000 people.
The company also sources 100 per cent of its potatoes locally to serve the regional market.
At the inauguration, PepsiCo announced plans to launch a new SR30m ($8m) regional R&D centre this year in Saudi Arabia, serving as a central hub for product and packaging innovations in the GCC.
The hub will include a state-of-the-art culinary facility for creating live prototypes and testing products and seasonings.
It will also feature a first-of-its-kind immersive sensory studio to generate deep consumer insights and help PepsiCo to tailor its product portfolio to the region's consumer preferences.
Mohamed Shelbaya, Senior Vice President & General Manager of MENA Beverages, said: 'The Middle East represents a key global market for PepsiCo. We are not only expanding our footprint but also innovating our product portfolio to meet the preferences of a young and dynamic consumer base, which makes up nearly half the region's population.'
The food and drinks firm runs several social impact programs from its RHQ, such as MENA Innovates, which drives sustainable innovation across the region and includes initiatives like the Youth Impact Studio, focused on building entrepreneurship and leadership skills among Arab youth.
It also operates Tamakani, its flagship initiative supporting the empowerment and career development of Saudi women.
In addition to Pepsi, brands for the group include: 7UP, Aquafina, Gatorade, Mirinda, Lipton, Mountain Dew and Tropicana drinks, as well as Lays, Cheetos and Doritos snacks.
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