The potato chip, in a smorgasbord of international flavors, is one of the salty snacks propelling the growth of PepsiCo overseas. The regional seasonings for the sliced-up spud range from seaweed in
Thai markets to Peking duck in China. Lays Mediterraneans, a line fried in olive oil and offered in flavors such as feta cheese and tomato-and-basil, does well in South America. PepsiCo's portfolio of
overseas products is highly diverse, reflecting the tastes of different cultures. Seeds and nuts are popular in the Middle East, while sunflower seeds are favored in China. Turks like to snack during
teatime; crackers flavored with cumin and poppyseeds are popular there. PepsiCo employs master chefs to experiment with flavors and seasonings, and has proprietary tools that help with the process.
One allows chefs to get the right aroma as well as the right taste. According to one analyst, the global position that the company is building in salty snacks "may someday resemble Coke's position in
CSDs [carbonated soft drinks]--the undisputed world leader facing stiff competitors in each market, but having no true global peer."
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