Multan, Punjab, 2 May 2019 – PepsiCo today officially opened its new manufacturing facility in Multan. The new plant will produce and supply snackssuch as Lay’s and Kurkure for Pakistan and its export markets.
This greenfield project is a US$63 million investment in Multan, creating 1,500 direct and indirect job opportunities for Pakistani citizens. Plant’s strategic location is in close proximity to PepsiCo’s agricultural partners.
This state-of-the-art plant thatspreads over approximately 10 hectares is designed to drive efficiency and increase capacity for PepsiCo’s growing business by allowing faster, more streamlined access to agricultural produce and delivery of finished productsto consumers.
Advisor for Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production, and Investment of Pakistan, Mr. Abdul Dawood officiated the opening of the brand-new plant located in the Multan Industrial Estate in the presence of Mr. Mike Spanos, CEO, PepsiCo Asia, Middle East and North Africa,Mr. Furqan Ahmed Syed, Vice President and General Manager, PepsiCo Pakistan and Afghanistan, Senior Officials of the Pakistan Government, PepsiCo and its partner suppliers, and other guests.
Mr. Spanos said “This US$63 million investment in Multan is testament to our commitment to Pakistan. As one of the nation’s leading food and beverage companies, PepsiCo works with 246 Pakistani farmers to purchase only locally-grown potatoes and corn for its products such as Lay’s and Kurkure.”
The facility was built in line with the criteria established by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the world’s leading green building standard. It uses advanced technologies and processes to conserve natural resources and reduce operating costs.
PepsiCo has been part of the business community in Pakistan for more than 50 yearsproviding critical support for rural economies and empowering farmers with critical training on sustainable farming practices. The PepsiCo system (including company-owned snacks business and franchised bottling partners and distributors) brings more than 60,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities to the citizens of Pakistan.
The Multan snacks plant inauguration follows PepsiCo’s announcement of a new corporate citizenship program funded by a US$1 million grant from the PepsiCo Foundation – the global philanthropic arm of PepsiCo. Through this grant, PepsiCo Foundation will make safe drinking water accessible to thousands of people through the rehabilitation and installation of reverse osmosis plants. This builds on the company’s strong record of water conservation in its locally-grown potato crops and in its snacks and beverage operations nationwide.
“Pakistan is an important market for PepsiCo AMENA and Multan is an important location within Pakistan. Over the years we have grown by taking a long-term view, making investments in both infrastructure and the communities we operate in. We strive to be a development partner with Pakistan and look forward to a bright future in Pakistan, for Pakistan, with Pakistan. I’d like to thank the Government of Pakistan and its agencies for their support,” said Mr. Spanos.
“We welcome the establishment of PepsiCo’s high-tech manufacturing facility in Multan. The investment is testament to the confidence in Pakistan and the advanced manufacturing sector,” said Mr. Dawood, Advisor for Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production, and Investment of Pakistan.
