26 February, 2008 – PepsiCo said it plans to export a host of fruit concentrates from the Indian region of Punjab, local sources report.
The drinks giant said it will begin with kinnow and other citrus fruits before expanding into mango, tomatoes and melons.
The company said it has already seen demand from South East Asia and intends to reduce its fruit concentrate imports from Pakistan and Brazil by up to 30%.
The company plans to produce the concentrate at a 10-acre Punjab Government facility. PepsiCo said it is confident it can reduce current high costs once output reaches full capacity by adding a second production line and recovering citrus peel oil from kinnows.
The state government is said to be supporting the move and has targeted planting of one million citrus acres in the region by 2015.