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Soda maker reports 100 'permanent' Columbia layoffs. It's unclear if the jobs are gone for good. Caleb Bozard Updated Thu, August 20, 2026 at 9:19 AM PDT COLUMBIA - A longstanding soda brand could be looking to eliminate over one hundred jobs in the Soda City. PepsiCo Beverages Sales LLC, a subsidiary of food and beverage magnate PepsiCo, listed 105 "permanent layoffs" at its bottling plant at 6925 N. Main St. in Columbia in documents filed with the state on Aug. 18. The layoffs would go into effect on Oct. 18, 2026, according to the documents. A representative for PepsiCo did not immediately respond to request for comment. Employers often file closing and layoff notices to comply with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, even if their workers will be rehired by or transferring to a new employer. The Columbia Pepsi plant made headlines in 2022 when an employee died while operating a forklift. The company stopped production in Columbia in 2014, laying off around 100 employees, according to media reports. The facility remained online in a distribution capacity. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

PepsiCo cuts sodium and sugar, while betting on fiber and protein. The CPG giant's nutrition strategy is no longer just removing sugar, salt and fat out of its products - it is also about adding more of what consumers want. Pepsi's 2025 ESG report reveals it is modernizing its core brands by introducing higher fiber, higher protein and functional products for a growing consumer base focused on gut health, satiety and hydration. "Consumer preferences are at the center of our innovation strategy. Some are seeking beverages with less sugar or no sugar, while others are looking for products that deliver added functionality and which better meet their expectations for hydration, metabolic health, and gut health," Sue Gatenby, senior director of R&D Life Sciences at PepsiCo, said. The company's 2025 ESG report shows it exceeded its goals in reducing added sugars, sodium and saturated fats across its portfolio. More than 68% of its beverage portfolio volume contain no more than 100 calories from added sugars per 12 ounce serving - exceeding its goal by one percentage point. PepsiCo also surpassed its 2025 goals for both sodium and saturated fat reduction in snacks. The company said 79% of its convenient foods portfolio met its sodium target and 79% met its saturated fat target, exceeding the 75% threshold it had set for each metric. Reformulation will continue to be an ongoing part of the company's portfolio evolution, according to Gatenby. Leveraging familiarity to introduce renovated formulas. PepsiCo's modernization of its core brands like Pepsi and Gatorade hold the advantage of familiarity among increasingly health-conscious consumers. Rather than replacing these legacy brands with new standalone nutrition brands, PepsiCo's strategy is to renovate these products with nutrition at their core. "Our progress in reducing added sugars, sodium and saturated fat comes from a combination of renovating existing products and introducing new ones that align with evolving consumer preferences" for nutrient dense options, Gatenby said. Lower-sugar Pepsi formulations take the shape of Pepsi Prebiotic Cola which contains 5 grams of sugar, 30 calories, 3 grams of prebiotic fiber per 330 mL serving and no artificial sweeteners, according to the company. PepsiCo's hydration brand Gatorade is another example of the company's nutrition approach with the launch of its Gatorade Lower Sugar which contains 5 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving, down roughly 75% from 21 grams in traditional Gatorade Thirst Quencher. Reduced sodium and added functional benefits shape core snack brands. Across PepsiCo's food portfolio the company says it has reduced sodium for Lay's, Walkers and Doritos brands, while including 8 grams of whole grain per serving for Tostitos and Simply Doritos brands. PepsiCo's focus on grains and macronutrients include launches for Quaker Fiber Instant Oatmeal, Smartfood Fiber Pop, SunChips Fiber and Doritos Protein - a reflection of Pepsi's adaptation to consumer preferences for functional benefits, Gatenby notes. Related topics. 10-Aug-2026 Demand for drinks promising everything from gut health to better sleep is soaring, but brands face growing pressure to back up their claims with robust science and regulatory compliance

Lipton Ice Tea will continue to be owned in a joint venture between Unilever and PepsiCo. Unilever Lipton Ice Tea: overview. * Unilever's food business deal excludes Lipton Ice Tea operations * Lipton Ice Tea remains owned through Pepsi Lipton joint venture * Ready-to-drink beverages sit outside Unilever's core foods transaction * Pepsi Lipton operates independently across five global regional divisions * Unilever already sold most tea brands in 2021 Explore related questions. In March this year, Unilever agreed to merge its food businesses with US giant McCormick, with the exception of India. Iconic brands such as Knorr and Hellmann's were part of the deal. But a key brand wasn't: Lipton Ice Tea. The ice tea brand, which is co-owned by Unilever in a joint venture with PepsiCo, called Pepsi Lipton, will retain Unilever's involvement. The brand will not be included in the deal with McCormick, explains a spokesperson for Unilever. The joint venture with PepsiCo will remain in place. "Ready-to-Drink beverages are very different from the other products in Unilever's Foods portfolio, which is why the business is not included in the transaction," says the spokesperson. How the joint venture works. Pepsi Lipton is, as well as being a joint venture between Unilever and PepsiCo, also "a company in its own right", with its own board of directors, according to the joint venture. It operates through five regional organisations - North America, ESSA (Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa), Latin America, AMEA (Africa, Middle East and Asia) and Greater China. Unilever and tea. Unilever used to have other tea brands as well. In 2021, it sold its tea portfolio, which included iconic brands such as PG Tips, to venture capital firm CVC Capital Partners. Also involved in this deal was Lipton tea, excluding of course Lipton's ice tea business. Earlier this year, the FT reported that CVC was injecting €210mn in cash back into Lipton, as the brand was hoping to stave off potential debt restructuring. The brand is struggling as sales of tea in the UK fall, with many younger people switching to coffee. As well as Lipton, the joint venture manages other ice tea brands such as Pure Leaf Iced Tea and Brisk Iced Tea. It is overseen by both parent companies, although according to Pepsi Lipton itself, "our entrepreneurial set up gives us real autonomy". While Unilever may be offloading major food brands such as Hellmann's and Knorr, it retains a presence in the beverage market through this joint venture with PepsiCo.