Companies to receive $20,000 to develop innovative business solutions,
join a five-month mentorship program with an opportunity to win an
additional $100,000
PURCHASE, N.Y., July 9, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Today, PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP) announced the
eight finalists chosen to participate in the second year of the
Greenhouse Accelerator Program: Juntos Crecemos (Together We
Grow) Edition. This edition of Greenhouse Accelerator focuses on
elevating high-potential consumer packaged food and beverage brands
and products inspired by Hispanic flavors and culture that are
better for people and the planet.
The eight finalists were assessed for their potential to
introduce innovative products to the food and beverage industry,
scalability and demonstrated commitment to quality, sustainability
and community engagement. The emerging businesses chosen to
participate in this year's cohort are from all across the country,
including:
- JAS - (Dallas, Texas) JAS
crafts alcohol-free cocktails with adaptogens, botanicals and real
ingredients. With expressions like the Paloma Libre infused with
Ashwaganda and packed with vibrant, flavor functional benefits and
a signature 'Mexican pink' hue, JAS embodies a "Be Bold, Be Free,"
lifestyle celebrating individuality and authenticity.
- JaziLupini - (Rochester, New
York) JaziLupini provides plant-based, gluten-free pasta,
dedicated to satisfying cravings with its low-carb, protein-rich
formula. Crafted from premium organic ingredients and inspired by
the flavors and culinary techniques of Latin American cuisine, it's
free from eggs, dairy, nuts, gluten and soy, and packed with
functional nutrients for a nourishing meal option.
- Mayawell - (Austin,
Texas) Mayawell offers Mexican-inspired prebiotic sodas
sweetened with organic agave and Active Agave™ inulin, serving as
both a prebiotic and low-glycemic sweetener. With flavors like
strawberry ginger with hibiscus and pineapple mango with turmeric,
Mayawell provides a delicious and guilt-free refreshment.
- Nemi - (Chicago,
Illinois) Nemi Snacks offers delicious, crunchy sticks made
with nopales, seeds and mercado-fresh spices. With five distinct
flavors and whole food ingredients, these snacks elevate authentic
Mexican flavors.
- PAKTLI - (Cincinnati,
Ohio) Paktli Foods crafts artisan super snacks with organic
puffed amaranth, quinoa, millet, chocolates, dried fruits and nuts.
Inspired by 16th-century Mexican alegrías, these snacks are organic
and gluten-free, with vegan and soy-free options.
- Pricklee - (New York, New
York) Pricklee is a natural hydration beverage made from
real prickly pear cactus, sourced from Mexico, packed with electrolytes, antioxidants
and vitamin C. Its low-sugar formula uses 80% less irrigation than
traditional crops, offering delicious and sustainable
refreshment.
- TOAST-IT® - (Miami,
Florida) TOAST-IT offers gluten-free, Latin American staples
like arepas and pandebono bites made with authentic ingredients
such as yuca root and baked plantains. Celebrating traditional
flavors, their ready-to-toast products bring a taste of Latin
American culture to the United
States.
- ¡Ya Oaxaca! - (Austin,
Texas) ¡Ya Oaxaca! crafts artisanal mole sauces adobos and
salsas with premium, natural, non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan
ingredients, capturing the essence of Oaxaca's gastronomic heritage while
prioritizing quality, sustainability and ethical sourcing
practices.
This edition of the Greenhouse Accelerator marks the second year
of collaboration with the PepsiCo Ventures Group and PepsiCo
Juntos Crecemos, part of pep+ (PepsiCo Positive's)
transformation agenda, to make a positive impact on people and our
planet by fostering innovation, creating economic opportunity and
supporting local communities.
"As we embark on the second year of the Greenhouse Accelerator
Program: Juntos Crecemos Edition, we're thrilled to witness
the continued evolution of emerging businesses in the food and
beverage industry," said Esperanza
Teasdale, Vice President & General Manager of PepsiCo
Beverages North America's Hispanic Business Unit. "Building on the
success of last year's program, where the businesses expanded
distribution and accelerated revenue in just six months, we're
committed to nurturing these eight new ventures toward sustainable
success."
The program officially kicked off with a launch event at the
Frito-Lay headquarters in Plano,
Texas, where the eight finalists were introduced to their
mentors – experts across research and development, supply chain,
design and more – who will support them during this five-month
accelerator program.
At the end of the five-month mentorship journey, each finalist
will present the progress they've made, demonstrating how they've
successfully implemented the learnings from their mentors to
identify solutions to accelerate the growth of their business. The
expert selection committee will then choose one of the eight
finalists to receive an additional $100,000 to continue their forward progress.
"We have such an exciting cohort of finalists this year
representing a diverse range of food, flavors and cultures," said
Antonio Escalona, Senior Vice
President of Emerging Business for PepsiCo Foods North America.
"With access to quality mentorship, resources and a platform
designed for growth, this program not only supports the expansion
of these innovative ventures but also brings forth products that
meet consumers' evolving tastes for unique and dynamic offerings,
driving forward both their success and industry innovation as a
whole."
The Greenhouse Accelerator program, which initially launched in
Europe in 2017, is now in its
ninth cycle of fostering sustainable entrepreneurial growth.
"We are proud to continue our support for emerging businesses
and to actively contribute to the startup ecosystem," said
Daniel Grubbs, Global Chief
Venturing & Investment Officer and Head of PepsiCo Ventures
Group. "By leveraging the deep expertise within our organization,
including the invaluable guidance from our PepsiCo mentors, we are
helping to identify and foster the success of these great
entrepreneurs and companies."
To learn more about the program, visit
https://greenhouseaccelerator.com/juntos-crecemos/.
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 more than $91
billion in net revenue in 2023, 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 beverages, 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
puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will
create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries
and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more
information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter),
Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
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SOURCE PepsiCo, Inc.