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PepsiCo launches Alvalle gazpacho in the U.S., expanding into refrigerated foods. Aug 05, 2026, 11:25 ET PURCHASE, N.Y., Aug. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - PepsiCo today announced the U.S. launch of Alvalle gazpacho, a ready-to-eat refrigerated soup made with vegetables and extra-virgin olive oil. The introduction marks a continued step in the company's expansion into fresh, meal-adjacent foods and the growing chilled category. Alvalle arrives as consumers increasingly seek simple, recognizable ingredients paired with convenience. Positioned in the refrigerated aisle, the product offers a ready-made option that can be enjoyed as part of small meals, snacks or meal complements in fast-paced, everyday routines. "Alvalle meets a very real consumer need - people want food made from recognizable ingredients that fits into their everyday lives," said Pol Codina, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Food Ventures at PepsiCo. "As we expand our portfolio, we are focused on bringing more real, ingredient-forward foods into everyday eating occasions." What is Alvalle gazpacho? Alvalle is a Mediterranean-style chilled soup rooted in traditional gazpacho: * Made with sun-ripened tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and extra-virgin olive oil * Blended into a ready-to-eat, cold soup format * Inspired by Spanish culinary tradition * Designed for modern, on-the-go consumption The product brings together culinary heritage and convenience, offering a contemporary way to enjoy a classic dish. Why PepsiCo is expanding into refrigerated foods The U.S. launch of Alvalle reflects broader shifts in food and retail trends: * Growing demand for refrigerated meal solutions * Increased interest in ingredient-forward, foods * Rising importance of the chilled grocery aisle as a discovery destination * Consumer need for quick, high-quality eating options The launch supports PepsiCo's strategy to expand beyond traditional categories and meet consumers in evolving eating occasions. Executive perspective on consumer demand "The way people eat continues to evolve, and we're seeing growing demand for foods that combine convenience, quality and great taste," said Marisa Perez, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Fresh Experiences Portfolio at PepsiCo Foods U.S. "Consumers are looking for simple, delicious options that fit seamlessly into their everyday lives, and Alvalle helps us meet them where they are today. Whether it's an addition to a busy weekday lunch, an afternoon snack or a casual summer gathering, Alvalle offers, ready-to-enjoy option made with quality ingredients." Where to find Alvalle gazpacho Alvalle is now available at select Whole Foods Market locations in the United States. Whole Foods Market provides a retail environment known for: * Strong standards for ingredient quality * Consumer trust in natural and premium foods * A destination for discovering emerging food products This placement supports discovery among shoppers already seeking high-quality meal solutions. About Alvalle Alvalle offers gazpacho made with vegetables and extra-virgin olive oil. Rooted in Mediterranean culinary tradition, the brand delivers a ready-to-eat refrigerated format designed for modern life, combining simplicity, quality and convenience. About PepsiCo PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $94 billion in net revenue in 2025, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and drinks, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that places sustainability at the center of our business strategy, seeking to drive growth and build a stronger, more resilient future for PepsiCo and the communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo. SOURCE PepsiCo

Big Food fills up on DTC sales. While sales directly from brands' digital platforms are unlikely to ever top brick-and-mortar, they allow food manufacturers to connect with consumers and test new products. Published Aug. 5, 2026 As food e-commerce grows, more food manufacturers are bringing their products directly to the consumer through their websites. Sales directly from digital brand platforms are becoming a bigger part of the business for more food giants, with the direct-to-consumer channel generating billions of dollars in revenue annually. Even if DTC business is unlikely to ever top the revenue generated from traditional store shelves, the channel provides unique opportunities to connect with consumers, test new innovations and keep up with digital-first upstarts who are now entering more grocery stores after commanding cult followings online. "[Food companies] potentially see that element or that piece of the puzzle becoming more important," according to Neil Saunders, managing director with GlobalData. "There's a desire not to get left behind. It's almost like we need to put a stake in the ground for this because if it does become bigger, we don't want to be caught [unprepared.]" On Hershey's website, consumers can customize snack boxes or find online-exclusive candies, such as chocolate-covered almonds. Beyond Meat used its platform Beyond Test Kitchen to test launch a pivot into protein drinks, which it has since expanded. PepsiCo doubled down on the channel during COVID-19 when it launched Pantryshop.com and Snacks.com, where shoppers could order an assortment of the company's products, including Gatorade, Quaker Oats, Lay's and Cheetos. With mounting competition in the market, DTC gives companies more control over multiple facets of their online business, especially with inflation putting pressure on volumes and margins, according to industry experts. It also allows businesses to offer more choice and potentially experiment with different innovations that they couldn't do as easily on a traditional shelf where space is far more limited. The data they collect from these purchases allows them to better understand shoppers, providing companies a platform to improve their customer service, generate ideas and collect immediate feedback. It's hard to estimate growth in DTC because most food companies don't release their sales data publicly. But figures from retail giant Amazon offer a glimpse. Direct-to-consumer food and beverage sales on Amazon totaled nearly $25 billion for the 52 weeks ended July 12, up 16.3% from $21.5 billion during the prior year, according to data provided by Spins and Stackline. Perfect Snacks, which is owned by snacking giant Mondelēz, turns to DTC to sell early innovations and educate consumers about the 21-year-old brand, including its origin and better-for-you ingredients list, she said. "Direct to consumers continues to be a strategic channel for us," said Cara Liebrock, Perfect Snacks' CEO. "We've elevated the importance of it, and that will continue." The brand, which has revamped its website to make shopping easier, said the platform provides Perfect Snacks with an invaluable opportunity to connect directly with consumers and collect feedback. "We continue to see e-commerce and brick-and-mortar as very complementary growth channels for us," Liebrock said. "We've established ourselves in brick and mortar and [are] now directing a little bit more focus online." DTC is not without its challenges, though, which could limit its growth. Many shoppers like seeing or touching the physical packaging or product, or in some cases sampling products, which could lead to a sale that might not have occurred otherwise. Consumers also don't want to go to several different sites to shop, instead preferring to visit as few outlets as possible. Some companies that have built the majority of their businesses online must perform the additional calculus of whether to invest in DTC or rely on third-party platforms such as Amazon.

Coca-Cola's second-quarter results demonstrate its early investment in sugar-free beverages is paying off, with Coca-Cola Zero Sugar growing 16% globally and Diet Coke up 7%. The company achieved 5% volume growth and 6% organic revenue growth. PepsiCo struggled in comparison, with North American beverage volume falling 4% and organic revenue growing just 2.4%. Management cited the need to "restate certain global brands" and invest in affordability initiatives, suggesting brand fatigue and pricing pressure. Coca-Cola is expanding its zero-sugar portfolio with products like Coca-Cola Zero Zero and Bodyarmor Fit. The company's innovation across functional and sugar-free drinks has created clear competitive advantages. Whilst Coca-Cola's execution is superior, its stock trades at a premium to PepsiCo, which offers a higher dividend yield. The market has already priced in Coca-Cola's better performance.