2 minute read - 19th May 2025
PepsiCo makes sustainability investment to reduce emissions
PepsiCo has installed three electric ovens at its snack production site in Leicester, following the recent completion of a £58m investment. This means popular snacks, including Wotsits, Monster Munch, Frazzles, Chipsticks, and Cheetos, are now cooked using ovens powered by 100% renewable electricity.
As part of the upgrade, PepsiCo has installed two brand new electric ovens and, through clever engineering, converted its previously gas-powered oven to now run on electric. Switching to these new electric ovens will help reduce the Leicester site’s greenhouse gas emissions by 1,500 tonnes per year.
PepsiCo has installed new electric ovens at its Leicester Walkers site to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the plant by 1,500 tonnes per year / Picture: PepsiCo
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The upgrade has been made possible by PepsiCo’s recent £58m investment in the site, which has increased its capacity. First announced in 2023, the investment has also seen Leicester become home to other PepsiCo snack brands such as Wotsits Giants, Monster Munch Giants, and heritage Smiths brands like Chipsticks and Frazzles. Moving these production lines to Leicester has helped to cut transport-related emissions across PepsiCo’s UK operations by an estimated 915 tonnes a year.
The oven upgrades are the latest in a series of sustainability initiatives at PepsiCo’s UK sites as the company continues work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Last year, PepsiCo replaced elements of the existing manufacturing line for Doritos in Coventry with new equipment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 700 tonnes a year and invested in new, more efficient fryers at Brigg, the home of Pipers Crisps.
PepsiCo has invested a total of £140m across the UK since 2020 to continue supporting its growth / Picture: PepsiCo
Richard Clarke, manufacturing director at PepsiCo UK and Ireland, said: “It’s fantastic to see the impact of our investment in each and every batch of delicious snacks made using our new electric ovens. With a brand new production line, better facilities for our teams, and now these more sustainable ovens, we’ve been able to transform our home in Leicester and secure its future growth. We’re incredibly proud of all the work that goes into making our iconic snacks right in the heart of the UK, and even more so now we’re doing it in a more sustainable way.”
In addition to introducing new, lower-emission ovens, PepsiCo’s £58m investment in the Leicester site has also seen the company install a new manufacturing line and upgrade facilities for its 1,192-strong team. PepsiCo has invested a total of £140m since 2020 to continue supporting its growth and success in the UK, where it makes some of Britain’s most popular brands across six sites.
