• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

New

Watch Fortune Daily, our new video show that brings you inside the Fortune newsroom and the boardroom

Watch Fortune Daily, our new video show that brings you inside the Fortune newsroom and the boardroom

Watch Fortune Daily, our new video show that brings you inside the Fortune newsroom and the boardroom

Watch Fortune Daily, our new video show that brings you inside the Fortune newsroom and the boardroom

Watch Fortune Daily, our new video show that brings you inside the Fortune newsroom and the boardroom

Watch Fortune Daily, our new video show that brings you inside the Fortune newsroom and the boardroom

Watch Fortune Daily, our new video show that brings you inside the Fortune newsroom and the boardroom

Watch Fortune Daily, our new video show that brings you inside the Fortune newsroom and the boardroom

Watch Fortune Daily, our new video show that brings you inside the Fortune newsroom and the boardroom

Watch Fortune Daily, our new video show that brings you inside the Fortune newsroom and the boardroom

RetailPepsiCo

Exclusive: PepsiCo to Acquire Probiotic Drinks Maker KeVita

By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 22, 2016, 7:00 AM ET
Courtesy of PepsiCo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

PepsiCo has agreed to fully acquire sparkling probiotic drink maker KeVita, a deal that will diversify the soda and snacking giant’s portfolio by adding another brand that taps consumer interest in healthier beverages.

Rumors of a potential deal between PepsiCo (PEP) and KeVita surfaced last month when Reuters reported the parties were close to a deal the news agency pegged at “less than $500 million.” Fortune has learned that the transaction price is actually around $200 million.

The transaction, which is set to close over the next couple of months, builds on the minority stake PepsiCo took in KeVita back in 2013. PepsiCo helped KeVita expand distribution, and intends to further push the brand’s access to retail markets now that it will fully own it.

For PepsiCo—owner of the namesake soda brand, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, and Quaker Oats—the deal is a way to bulk up on the consumer trend toward “functional” beverages, which are selling strongly as consumers look for more nutritional benefits in the foods and drinks they consume. KeVita is also on-trend in other ways: the beverages in the portfolio generally contain between five and 45 calories per serving, and most of the flavors are sweetened with stevia and contain no sugar.

 

Adding KeVita to PepsiCo’s portfolio will also help the beverage giant make good on its promise that by 2025 at least two-thirds of its global beverage portfolio volume will have 100 calories or fewer from added sugars per 12-oz serving. The entire KeVita line, with 27 skus currently on shelves today, meets that criteria.

The move is also a significant pivot for PepsiCo as it aims to diversity the portfolio to tilt more heavily toward beverages that are in the health and wellness space of the grocery aisle at a time when U.S. consumers are drinking less carbonated soft drinks because of concerns about high calorie counts and some sweeteners found in those drinks. Consumers are leaning more toward bottled water, juices, kombucha, and flavored waters that are more on trend today, so it makes sense that PepsiCo would want more brands in house to address those broader trends.

PepsiCo doesn’t often fully acquire brands like KeVita, which was founded in 2009, as the company’s management is fairly prudent about not overpaying for a food or beverage startup. Chief executive Indra Nooyi has said that while PepsiCo doesn’t shy away from making investments that can create value for shareholders over the long term, finding the right buying opportunity can be a challenge. Smaller startups, in particular, are often excessively priced.

“The truth is, we look at almost everything that’s out there, but obviously we buy very, very few things,” vice chairman and Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston told The Street in an interview earlier this year. He said PepsiCo tends to average less than $500 million per year in tuck-in acquisitions.

Upon closing, KeVita will operate independently with its production and bottling facilities located in California. The brand’s co-founders, Bill Moses and Chakra Earthsong, will stay on and serve as brand ambassadors. KeVita will be tucked into the PepsiCo Premium Nutrition business, which also includes the juice and smoothie Naked Juice and sparkling juice maker IZZE.

About the Author
By John KellContributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence

John Kell is a contributing writer for Fortune and author of Fortune’s CIO Intelligence newsletter.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Retail

gen z
Personal FinanceConsumer Spending
Gen Z’s anti-capitalist brand says one thing. Its spending data says something more interesting
By Nick LichtenbergAugust 5, 2026
6 hours ago
McDonald’s CEO turns to a trusted lieutenant with a turnaround record to revive its biggest market
C-Suitechief executive officer (CEO)
McDonald’s CEO turns to a trusted lieutenant with a turnaround record to revive its biggest market
By Phil WahbaAugust 4, 2026
19 hours ago
Cloudflare just launched a permanent ID tool and wallet for AI shopping
AICloudFlare
Cloudflare just launched a permanent ID tool and wallet for AI shopping
By Jeff John RobertsAugust 4, 2026
1 day ago
m
Retailearnings
McDonald’s U.S. sales growth stalls to 0.8% as gas prices bite
By Michelle Chapman and The Associated PressAugust 4, 2026
1 day ago
The Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.
Real EstateLuxury
From Porsche penthouses to Nobu lofts: Inside the $67 billion boom in luxury branded residences
By Zahra TayebAugust 4, 2026
1 day ago
Photo of Christopher Nolan
Arts & Entertainmentimax
‘A hidden gem’: Odyssey fans are shelling out up to $2,000 to buy 70mm IMAX tickets on eBay
By Sarah GlodekAugust 3, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

How Zohran Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax exposed an epidemic of 'ghost cars' instead
Personal Finance
How Zohran Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax exposed an epidemic of 'ghost cars' instead
By Catherina GioinoAugust 4, 2026
1 day ago
Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health
North America
Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health
By Catherina GioinoAugust 2, 2026
3 days ago
Forget Gen Z: People in their 70s and 80s are some of the earliest Americans to welcome physical AI into their homes and daily routines
AI
Forget Gen Z: People in their 70s and 80s are some of the earliest Americans to welcome physical AI into their homes and daily routines
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezAugust 3, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of August 4, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of August 4, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerAugust 4, 2026
1 day ago
Scott Bessent is using moves from his hedge fund days to prop up Japan's yen—and America's $40 trillion national debt
Economy
Scott Bessent is using moves from his hedge fund days to prop up Japan's yen—and America's $40 trillion national debt
By Mia OsmonbekovAugust 4, 2026
19 hours ago
Ray Dalio on the AI bubble nearing 1929, 2000 levels and the lesson people always forget: 'Wealth is not the same as money'
Investing
Ray Dalio on the AI bubble nearing 1929, 2000 levels and the lesson people always forget: 'Wealth is not the same as money'
By Nick LichtenbergAugust 4, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.