PepsiCo commissions their largest greenfield potato chip plant in Uttar Pradesh, India, investing USD 110 million

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh,  Yogi Adityanath inaugurated global food and beverage major PepsiCo’s largest greenfield potato chips plant in India at Mathura. Entailing an investment of Rs 814 crore, the PepsiCo unit spanning 29 acres in Kosi Kalan, Mathura will procure 150,000 tons of locally grown potatoes, thus benefitting more than 5,000 farmers and creating 1,500 direct and indirect job opportunities.

The launch ceremony was also addressed by Shri Satish Mahana, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Minister, Uttar Pradesh Govt, Shri. Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary, Dairy Development, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries Minister, Uttar Pradesh Govt, Shri. Navneet Singh Chahal, District Magistrate, Mathura; Mr. Eugene Willemsen, CEO, Africa, Middle East, South Asia, PepsiCo, and Mr. Ahmed ElSheikh, President, PepsiCo India.

The company will also commission a state-of-the-art cold storage warehouse for an improved supply chain. The cold storage technology will increase the shelf life of potatoes substantially, PepsiCo said.

Virtually presiding over the inaugural ceremony from Lucknow, Adityanath noted that the PepsiCo plant was an example of a partnership between the state and the private sector investor for the welfare of farmers.

Yogi Adityanath, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh:
 

"The state of Uttar Pradesh has taken rapid strides in becoming Atmanirbhar by focussing on reforms and industry-friendly policies. All such efforts have led to UP being ranked No. 2 in ease of doing business in India leading to greater employment opportunities and an increase in farmer incomes."

"I would like to congratulate PepsiCo India for opening its foods plant in less than two years. We are positive this ‘Unnati Ki Sajhedhari’ will contribute to the progress of the State."

Satish Mahana, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Minister:
 

"Our mission is to make Uttar Pradesh a leading state in terms of ‘Ease of Doing’ Business’. To make that a reality, we have introduced many industry-friendly reforms, over the last few years, which have made the State a favorable investment destination."

"The MoU between PepsiCo and the State Government was signed in July 2019 and within six months land was allocated to the company for the new plant. In January 2020, the pandemic hit India and despite the lockdown and subsequent challenges, the State Government and PepsiCo India worked closely together to ensure the company’s greenfield project was operational in less than two years."

Ahmed ElSheikh, President, PepsiCo India:
 

"The launch of our new foods plant in Kosi Kalan, Mathura is in line with the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Commissioning of the foods plant marks PepsiCo’s single largest investment of INR 814 crore in the country."

"The support of the UP government and the local administration has been instrumental in the commissioning of o PepsiCo India has developed Kosi Kalan, a Mathura foods plant, featuring next-generation technologies. The company will also commission a state-of-the-art cold storage warehouse for an improved supply chain in the State. The cold storage technology will increase the shelf life of potatoes substantially."

PepsiCo India has developed Kosi Kalan, a Mathura foods plant, featuring next-generation technologies. The company will also commission a state-of-the-art cold storage warehouse for an improved supply chain in the State. The cold storage technology will increase the shelf life of potatoes substantially.

Advising PepsiCo to help farmers with advanced potato seeds for mutual benefits. According to PepsiCo, the Mathura unit marked the company’s largest greenfield investment in manufacturing in India. It is the company’s first ‘Make and Move’ factory, which will produce Lay’s potato chips brand.

PepsiCo's press communiqué:
 

"The state-of-the-art plant aligns with the UP government’s industrialization-led growth agenda."

Eugene Willemsen PepsiCo’s CEO, Africa, Middle East, and South Asia:
 

"India continues to be a strategic market and an engine of growth for PepsiCo in Africa, the Middle East, and the South Asia (AMESA) region… The plant will implement the best of what PepsiCo has to offer globally in terms of technology, sustainability & diversity, and will contribute to the State’s overall development through employment opportunities and strong Agri-linkages."

Further, staying true to PepsiCo’s ‘Winning with Purpose’ philosophy, the foods plant will deploy the best of sustainability practices leveraging investment into advanced technologies. It also has plans to progressively transition to significant renewable energy usage in the near future.