PepsiCo has reshuffled parts of its team of senior executives as part of its efforts to speed up the company's growth. The changes, which will take effect later this month, were announced yesterday (15 December) and come as the US group looks to improve its performance after pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management. Steven Williams, the CEO of PepsiCo's business in North America, has been moved to a new combined position of vice chairman and global chief commercial officer. William ...

Core Viewpoint - PepsiCo is implementing job cuts in its Ireland operations as part of a strategy to enhance efficiency and growth, although the specific number of affected roles has not been disclosed [1][2]. Group 1: Job Cuts and Organizational Changes - The company is making limited organizational changes at its Cork business to support ongoing transformation efforts aimed at efficiency and growth [1]. - PepsiCo is committed to supporting impacted employees and maintaining a strong presence in Ireland, which is considered a strategically important location [2]. Group 2: Expansion Plans and Challenges - PepsiCo's plans for a four-storey expansion of its production and warehouse facility in County Cork were denied permission, which would have added 12,207 square meters of floor space [3]. - The Cork site is crucial for producing concentrates for major brands like Pepsi, 7Up, and Mountain Dew [3]. Group 3: Investor Scrutiny and Business Performance - In North America, PepsiCo is under scrutiny from activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which has a $4 billion stake in the company [4]. - Elliott has urged PepsiCo to reassess its business structure in North America following a period of poor financial results, indicating that the company is at a critical inflection point [4]. - Conversely, Elliott expressed optimism about PepsiCo's performance in international markets, highlighting robust growth and significant potential for further expansion [5]. Group 4: Leadership and Strategic Focus - PepsiCo's chairman and CEO, Ramon Laguarta, emphasized the company's urgency in transforming its portfolio, simplifying operations, and reducing costs to invest in future growth [5].

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]

Core Points - Carlsberg is investing £20 million ($40.1 million) in a new soft drinks canning line at its Rugby factory in the UK to significantly increase production capacity [1][2] - The new canning line will create over 30 permanent, full-time jobs, bringing the total number of employees at the Rugby site to more than 430 [2] - The Rugby facility will increase its production capacity from 560,000 to 610,000 canned soft drinks per hour, enabling the production of brands like Tango and Pepsi Max [1][3] Investment Strategy - This investment is part of Carlsberg's broader strategy to enhance its supply chain and production capabilities [2][3] - The total investment in the Rugby site over the past five years has exceeded £60 million [3] - The company is also focusing on operational efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, supported by a government grant for sustainability initiatives [4] Market Expansion - Carlsberg Britvic has signed an exclusive deal with an undisclosed retailer and is preparing to launch the US prebiotic soda brand Poppi in the UK within the next four months [5][6] - The new supply chain setup is expected to support the launch of Poppi, although it is not confirmed if the products will be produced locally or shipped from elsewhere [6]

Carlsberg Group 2025 Capital Markets Day Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Carlsberg Group (OTCPK:CABG.Y) - **Event**: 2025 Capital Markets Day - **Date**: October 01, 2025 Key Points Digital Transformation and Global Capability Center (GCC) - Carlsberg is establishing a Global Capability Center (GCC) in India with locations in Gurgaon and Hyderabad to enhance IT delivery and operational efficiency [1][2] - The GCC allows for a zero-based approach to resource estimation, optimizing costs by insourcing IT service management and operations, avoiding significant vendor cost increases [2][3] - The GCC is seen as a growth engine, providing strategic flexibility and access to talent, which is crucial for digital delivery and innovation [3][4] Digital Backbone - Carlsberg is developing a digital backbone, referred to as iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service), to connect core systems and enhance operational efficiency [5][6] - The digital backbone consists of three core components powered by Microsoft Azure, SAP BTP, and Solace, enabling real-time analytics and improved supply chain visibility [6][7] - This backbone replaces legacy systems, allowing for predictive maintenance and better consumer insights, while enhancing data quality and resilience [7][8] Data Management and Analytics - Carlsberg is building a unified data foundation called OneLake to democratize data access and drive advanced analytics [9][10] - The data marketplace aims to provide trusted access to data, enabling better decision-making and operational performance [12][14] - The focus is on creating a single version of the truth to enhance agility and visibility across operations [10][11] Commercial Capabilities and Growth Strategy - Carlsberg aims to grow its top line by 4% to 6% year-on-year, focusing on three core commercial capabilities: digital commerce, field sales execution, and value management [19][20] - Digital commerce is experiencing significant growth, with eB2B growing by approximately 20% in 2024 and eB2C by 25% [21][22] - The new eB2B platform, "Served," is being rolled out to enhance customer interactions and streamline ordering processes [23][25] Sales Execution and Value Management - The FIT (Focus, Implement, Track) platform is being digitized to improve sales execution, with new tools like Sales Coach enhancing sales representatives' capabilities [28][32] - Value management is being transformed through the VMX tool, which utilizes advanced machine learning for pricing and promotional simulations, significantly reducing decision-making time [36][38] - The VMX tool is operational in five stronghold countries, with plans for further rollout [41][42] Market Outlook and Performance - Carlsberg is confident in the market outlook for both beer and soft drinks, with a focus on driving value in mainstream beer and exploring growth in premium segments [75][76] - The company has a strong performance track record in Western Europe, with good share growth momentum in both beer and soft drinks [80][81] - The acquisition of Britvic is expected to unlock synergies and improve operating margins once fully integrated [79][80] Cybersecurity and Resilience - Carlsberg is prioritizing cybersecurity, implementing a program called Protected to secure solutions end-to-end and mitigate risks associated with digital transformation [63][64] - The company emphasizes the importance of a robust digital infrastructure to ensure resilience against potential cyber threats [64][65] Conclusion - Carlsberg is undergoing a significant digital transformation, focusing on enhancing operational efficiency, data management, and commercial capabilities to drive growth and maintain competitive advantages in the beverage industry [42][43]

Core Viewpoint - Elliott Investment Management, managing $4 billion in PepsiCo, seeks significant changes to enhance the company's performance despite recognizing it as a strong consumer franchise [1][4][5]. Group 1: Elliott's Goals and Recommendations - Elliott aims to help PepsiCo sharpen focus, drive innovation, and unlock value from its leading brands and scale [4][5]. - The investor believes PepsiCo is at a "critical inflection point" and describes it as a "dramatic under-performer" in North America [7][8]. - Recommendations include reviewing the North American food and drinks business structure, refranchising the drinks bottling network, and streamlining the beverage portfolio [6][9][25]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Market Context - In 2024, PepsiCo reported net revenue of $91.85 billion, a 0.4% increase year-over-year, with operating profit growing 7.5% to $12.89 billion [13]. - However, the company faced challenges, including a 0.3% decline in first-half net revenue and a 35.4% drop in operating profit [16]. - PepsiCo's share price has fallen over 5% this year, contrasting with Coca-Cola's nearly 8% increase [16]. Group 3: Portfolio Optimization and Strategic Moves - Elliott emphasizes the need for PepsiCo to optimize its portfolio by offloading non-core and underperforming assets, similar to strategies employed by Coca-Cola and Unilever [21][24]. - The investor praised PepsiCo's recent sale of Rockstar brand rights as a positive step towards simplifying its portfolio [24]. - There is speculation about the future of Quaker within PepsiCo's portfolio, with suggestions that it may lack strategic interest without Tropicana [22][23]. Group 4: Management and Investor Sentiment - PepsiCo's management has acknowledged Elliott's input, stating they value constructive dialogue to enhance long-term shareholder value [12][18]. - Investor sentiment appears mixed, with some skepticism regarding the feasibility of Elliott's proposals, particularly around refranchising [30]. - Analysts suggest that Elliott's involvement may create urgency for management to improve performance and address operational challenges [29].