Pepsi to stop making Cheetos in PHL

Local bottling giant Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) on Wednesday announced the stoppage of its snacks production operations to focus on the company's core business.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Pepsi-Cola Philippines said its board of directors approved the closure of its snacks production line and to initiate negotiations for the discontinuation of the locally-made Cheetos with US-based PepsiCo.

"PCPPI has decided to leverage on its core competency in the beverage space, which has been the bottling giant’s core business for 70 years," the company said.

Nevertheless, Pepsi-Cola Philippines said PepsiCo will continue to import and sell Cheetos in the Philippines, along with its other snack brands such as Lays, Doritos, Ruffles, Red Rock Deli, Fritos, Tostitos, Sunchips, Smartfood, Munchies, and Rold Gold.

"These brands will continue to be supplied and available in-store in the Philippines," it said.

Affected employees of Pepsi-Cola Philippines' snacks plant in Cabuyao, Laguna will be transitioned into new roles within the company "following management’s thrust of leading its employees well."

"This transition allows PCPPI to further optimize and strengthen the production and distribution of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages to millions of Filipinos nationwide," it said. —NB, GMA News