Pepsi Co Under Fire?

I recently listened to a podcast on the Financial Times website. The podcast is part of a series called “View From the Top.”

It was an interview of Indra Nooyi, CEO of Pepsi Co.

This interview came close on the heels of a class-meeting with a guest lecturer – a publicist.

It was interesting to learn how difficult it can be to pierce publicist-speak and get to the “truth’ as journalists like to think of it.

And it is sometimes even more difficult to get a CEO speak
the truth.

Pepsi.Co has, justifiably or otherwise, been involved with groundwater pollution issues in India.

And now there is the issue of bottled water which is again attracting adverse publicity.

Ms. Nooyi deftly prevaricated by saying that the company offered a wide range if products and consumers could elect not to use bottled water.

As far as lay chips are concerned, Ms. Nooyi parried by saying that it was sedentariness and not the caloric value of food within a reasonable range, that was the culprit.

So, what is this with the sudden greening initiative with Frito Lay, Ms. Nooyi?