Pepsico's Food Opportunity

With a reorganization behind it, Purchase, NY-based Pepsico, starting in FY 08, may be able to do more with its largest single division, its Americas food operations. They account for 45 percent of the company's revenues, half again more than its beverage units in the Americas region, and is headed up by John Compton. The division has reduces the environmental impact on local communities of its Frito-Lay factories, which is terrific for the workers and the community.

Now it would be wonderful if the oligopoly power that Pepsico has, with the long reach of its vending machines into our institutions, is used to give us more choices. This is a good CSR goal and one that would benefit me personally because I am scheduled to teach from 6 to 9 pm many evenings and the vending machines all belong to Pepsico. Rarely is there time at the break to go farther than the nearest vending machine if I have not had anything to eat before class. But the vending machine offerings do not cater to professors seeking to stay away from salt, processed sugar or anything fried. How hard would it be to include raisin-and-nuts packages (what the Dutch call "student oats" and the Germans "studentenfutter" or-"student fodder")?