US soft drink and snack food giant PepsiCo will be opening a research and development centre in Shanghai, its first to be established outside the US, a company spokesperson informed just-food today (30 March).

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


PepsiCo’s Dick Detwiler told just-food that the R&D centre will focus on the development of new snack foods and beverages specifically for the Chinese market. It will also adjust existing products to suit Chinese taste preferences. “The facility in China will be involved in developing and adapting snack food and beverage products for Chinese consumers,” he said.


Although Detwiler refused to divulge details of the investment, PepsiCo has previously stated that it will invest a further US$850m in developing its business in China in the next three years.


China is PepsiCo’s biggest market outside the US. In 2005, PepsiCo sales grew by more than 25% and a similar increase is expected this year.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact