Over 70% of PepsiCo India beverages now zero sugar or mid-calorie, firm aims for 90-100%

PepsiCo India is expanding its food and beverage business and changing its products to suit the shifting and more health-conscious needs of Indian consumers. The company says it is widening the range of healthier options while retaining the taste consumers like, keeping in mind growing awareness of health and wellness. The focus is on changes to ingredients, new products and varieties, and the use of different ingredients.

The company's beverage business has made significant progress in increasing low and mid-calorie options. More than 70 per cent of its beverage products are currently zero sugar or mid-calorie. The company aims to take this share to 90 to 100 per cent in phases. Besides necessary changes to ingredients, the focus is on expanding low and zero sugar options. These include Pepsi Black, 7Up Zero Sugar, Gatorade Zero and Nimbooz.

In food, PepsiCo India is offering consumers more choice through nutritional values, different ingredients and new methods of preparation. In 2026, changes were made to the Quaker brand, with its protein, fibre and whole grain attributes presented more clearly to consumers. Among the healthier options are baked variants of Red Rock Deli, which have 40 per cent less fat.

Kurkure Jowar Puffs, a millet-based snack that honours India's farming tradition, has also arrived as a new option. According to the company, these new offerings are part of its broader effort to give consumers more choice to suit their varied tastes, preferences and lifestyles. Ready-to-eat foods across all the company's brands, including Lay's, Kurkure, Doritos, Cheetos, Uncle Chipps, Quaker and Red Rock Deli, do not use artificial flavours or colours.

Transparency has also been given an important place in the change. PepsiCo India provides nutritional information on its product packs. This includes energy, serving size and the contribution of key nutrients against the suggested daily requirement. According to the company, this gives consumers the information they need to choose the right product for their preference and occasion.

Yashika Singh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Sustainability Head, PepsiCo India and South Asia, said: "At PepsiCo India, we believe it is important to understand consumers' changing preferences and recognise their varied needs. Making it easy for consumers to choose healthier options is not just our responsibility but an integral part of innovation and business growth. Our aim is to enable people to make informed choices through our brands and to bring joy into their lives."

Yashika Singh further said: "From low and zero sugar beverages to snacks made from different ingredients such as whole grains and millets, we are making more options available to consumers. These options will be useful for consumers who are becoming more aware of their choices. At the same time, we are prioritising the taste of our products and the enjoyment they give. On the whole, our effort is to offer as many options as possible that respond to consumers' changing needs and reflect India's diverse food culture and beverage habits."

All these steps reflect PepsiCo India's approach of changing products with consumer needs at the centre. Keeping in mind the changing tastes, lifestyles and varied occasions of Indian consumers, the company is improving its existing products and also bringing new options for them.