PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta: We're exploring removing artificial coloring from some products

Q2 Performance & Growth - PepsiCo is pleased with its Q2 performance, noting an acceleration of the business in the US for both snacks and beverages [2] - The company's international business, a $40 billion business, continues to grow at a mid-single-digit rate [2] - Pepsi gains share in the cola category with Pepsi, driven by non-sugar options and advertising [4] - The company is growing share in various snack segments, including Cheetos, Doritos, and permissible snacks [5] Brand Investment & Innovation - PepsiCo is focused on strengthening brands, finding the right affordability levels for consumers, and investing in away-from-home channels [6][7] - The company is reinvesting in value, brands, and innovation, particularly in functional and permissible segments [7] Portfolio Transformation & Consumer Preferences - PepsiCo is working to improve the profile of its portfolio, with 60% of products already without artificial colors in the US [10][11] - Lays and Tostitos will move to zero artificial colors by the end of the year [11] - PepsiCo is launching "naked" versions of Doritos and Cheetos to gauge consumer reaction to products without artificial colors [12] - The company offers a variety of options, including sugar, no sugar, corn syrup, and real sugar, to cater to consumer preferences [13][16] Government & Regulatory Considerations - Food and beverage is important, and it's normal for governments to pay attention to what people eat and drink [10] - Sugar is more expensive in the US than in many parts of the world, suggesting a potential conversation with the government on affordability and farming strategies [15]