nosh nook #74 - thursday, june 25, 2009

pepsi inks deal to produce, sell snacks in japan (link)
06.24.09 - associated press

pepsico inc is big...billions & billions of dollars in yearly revenue big. they already have a handful of major brands in their family--frito-lay, tropicana, quaker oats, naked juice.  at one point, they even owned your neighborhood combination pizza hut & taco bell, until they spun off yum brands (owner of both franchises) into its own company back in 1997. yesterday, pepsico got even bigger.

it's still subject to approval from the japanese government, but as the associated press reports, on wednesday, pepsico struck a deal with calbee foods, japan's largest snack company. as part of the deal, calbee foods gets pepsico's frito-lay japan business & cash and pepsico gets newly issued stock that will give them 20% control of calbee. pepsico also gets a seat on calbee's board. get ready japan!  the two companies will produce and sell snacks there, snacks such as "potato chips, vegetable snacks, breakfast cereal and prawn crackers," which are a popular snack in japan, but which i find absolutely pukeworthy...which is odd, because i'll eat pretty much anything, especially if it's seafood flavored.

the two companies' CEOs are both excited about the deal. in fact, they're so excited that they've already become the same person. indra nooyi, pepsico chairman/CEO said "we believe we have a huge opportunity to diversify our portfolio by offering products that reflect both western and japanese dietary cultures." calbee CEO yasuo nakata agrees. "we believe we have a huge opportunity to diversify our portfolio by offering products that reflect both western and japanese dietary cultures."  after issuing their joint, identical statements, the two CEOs realized that despite their cultural differences, deep down, they have a lot in common...so they went to youtube & played group 1 crew's "a lot in common" over & over again, basking in its uplifting, positive message & super fly beats.  best youtube video with a slideshow of cutesy animals (who are obviously BFFs) ever!