Archive · 9 Oct 2026
PepsiCo India Shifts Beverage Portfolio Toward Low- and Zero-Sugar Choices
PepsiCo India is changing its drinks so more choices have little or no sugar.
The company says these drinks now make up about three-quarters of its beverage sales volume.
It expects that share to rise to nearly nine-tenths in about a year and a half.
Some of its brands have zero-sugar versions.
The company has also changed some recipes to reduce sugar.
It says this shift responds to changing customer preferences and can help its business grow.
A study cited in the article found that bottled soft drinks reached their highest-ever in-home penetration in March–May.
PepsiCo India says rural areas account for nearly half of its growth.
PepsiCo India says low- and no-sugar drinks now make up 73–74% of its beverage portfolio volume, up from about 50% more than a year ago.
The company expects low- and zero-sugar products to reach nearly 90% of portfolio volume within about 18 months.
PepsiCo India offers zero-sugar versions of 7UP, Pepsi, Gatorade, Mountain Dew and Nimbooz Jeera Soda.
Nitin Bhandari said reformulations have reduced sugar in some carbonated drinks to less than 100 calories per serving.
Bhandari said nearly half of the company’s growth is coming from rural regions; bottled soft drinks reached 44.1% in-home penetration in March–May.
- Who
- PepsiCo India and Nitin Bhandari, its VP and General Manager for Beverages in India and South Asia.
- What
- The company is increasing the share of low- and zero-sugar beverages in its portfolio.
- When
- The article was published October 9, 2026; the company describes changes over the prior 18 months and a target for the next 18 months.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- PepsiCo India says it is responding to changing consumer preferences and aiming to drive business and market growth.
- Current portfolio share
- Low- and no-sugar beverages account for about 73–74% of beverage portfolio volume.
- Previous portfolio share
- About 50% more than a year earlier.
- Company target
- Nearly 90% of portfolio volume within approximately 18 months.
- Zero-sugar category growth
- Bhandari said the category is growing about 40% at the industry level.
- Low-sugar reformulation
- Some carbonated drinks were reformulated to contain less than 100 calories per serving.
- Bottled soft-drink penetration
- 44.1% in the March–May period, described as the category's highest-ever in-home penetration.
- Rural growth
- Bhandari said nearly half of the company's growth comes from rural regions.