PepsiCo emphasises growth “acceleration” with new CFO on board

Core Insights - PepsiCo is focusing on "portfolio reshaping" to achieve sequential growth in the third quarter, reversing the decline experienced in the same period last year [1][4] - The company announced the appointment of Steve Schmitt as the new CFO, who is expected to play a crucial role in accelerating growth [2][3] Financial Performance - PepsiCo reported a revenue growth of 2.6% in the third quarter, an improvement from 1% in the previous quarter and a recovery from a negative 0.6% in the same quarter last year [4] - Organic growth was recorded at 1.3%, matching the pace of the same quarter in fiscal 2024 but slowing from 2.1% in the second quarter [5] Volume Trends - Overall group volumes declined by an average of 1% across PepsiCo's food and beverage segments [5] - Specific declines included a 4% drop in PepsiCo Foods North America (PFNA) and a 3% decrease in North America Beverages (PBNA) [6] - The international franchise drinks business also saw a 1% drop, while volumes in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) for convenient foods fell by 1% but increased by 1.5% for beverages [6] Strategic Focus - The company aims to accelerate growth and optimize its cost structure, with a strong pipeline of innovation and adjustments to its price-pack architecture [3][4] - Elliott Management, a significant investor, has suggested that PepsiCo consider refranchising its North American drinks bottling network and simplifying its beverage portfolio [7]