PepsiCo, Inc. is reportedly in discussions to acquire Poppi, a healthier soda brand, as noted in a recent article covering shifts in the sports drink market. This move is part of PepsiCo’s strategy to maintain dominance in a market where its Gatorade brand currently holds a 61% share, amid rising competition from new health-focused entrants.

PepsiCo, Inc. was reported to have joined a collective defense with other consumer goods companies by publicly supporting Coca-Cola in a stand against Trump’s authoritarian policies, reflecting a commitment to oppose fascist and authoritarian influences in corporate political engagement.

PepsiCo Inc has donated over $1.2M and engaged in $3.9M in lobbying during the 2024 cycle, with significant revolving door engagement among its lobbyists. This raises concerns about their potential influence on democratic processes and the advancement of corporate interests that can undermine transparency and fairness in politics.

PepsiCo announced a series of targeted training programs aimed at combating forced labor and modern slavery risks across its global operations and supply chain. The program includes training for nearly 2,000 employees and specialized sessions for business-critical suppliers, particularly in high-risk regions.

The American Democracy Scorecard is tracking PepsiCo's political contributions to scrutinize if its corporate spending is inadvertently supporting authoritarian policies. The lack of transparency and potential alignment with right-wing funding raise concerns from an anti-fascist perspective.

PepsiCo's guidelines for political contributions and lobbying activities emphasize transparency and compliance with legal standards. While the company clearly outlines strict internal approval processes and non-partisan practices, its active involvement in political spending continues to amplify corporate influence in policy making, which raises concerns from an anti-fascist perspective about the broader impacts on democratic integrity.

PepsiCo outlines its guidelines and policies for political contributions, lobbying, and public policy engagement, providing detailed disclosures on its expenditure for lobbying activities and adherence to legal reporting. Despite transparency, these practices raise concerns about the influence of corporate political spending on democratic processes.

Investors at the annual meeting criticized PepsiCo for its opaque global political spending and alleged human rights abuses in its Brazilian supply chain, raising concerns about the company's role in facilitating undemocratic practices through insufficient disclosure and potential regulatory capture.

In 2022, Celsius Holdings entered into a 20-year distribution agreement with PepsiCo, with PepsiCo acquiring an 8.5% stake in the business. This deal, noted within a broader article on Celsius options trading, outlines a standard corporate partnership without direct political, social, or authoritarian implications.

A 2017 report detailed severe labor rights violations including child labor, exposure to toxic pesticides, and failure to pay minimum wages in PepsiCo’s palm oil supply chain. The report criticizes PepsiCo for distancing itself from its joint venture partner Indofood and for failing to take meaningful remedial actions.

An investigative report by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre linked PepsiCo's Indonesia-made products to child labor, unethically low wages, and worker exploitation, raising major concerns regarding labor practices and supply chain ethics.

PepsiCo has committed to disclosing all direct lobbying activities and political spending, including contributions to trade associations and funding for grassroots lobbying, as mandated by state regulatory authorities.