PepsiCo announced it was consolidating its presence in the Dominican Republic with a recent investment of more than USD30m for the expansion of its Caribbean Plant.
Gerardo Díaz de León, president of PepsiCo Alimentos in Central America, the Caribbean, and the Southern Cone, indicates that the expansion includes the installation of a new potato line capable of producing 10.9 million units of Lay’s per month; the fitting out of an exclusive banana line and a new raw material warehouse that doubles the storage space and thereby increases the volume of purchase from local agricultural producers.
“Through this investment the company strengthens its alliance and commitment to the development of the country and the economic recovery of the region. […]
The expansion of the Caribbean plant, which produces snacks from the Frito Lay portfolio, implied the development of an important civil work and the installation of new technologies, which increase the production capacity of our beloved Lay’s brand. This allows us to generate more jobs in the field and buy more local potatoes from Dominican producers, as well as get closer to our consumers through grocery stores.”
In the statement, the company says that PepsiCo currently maintains contracts with farming communities in the areas of Constanza, Moca, La Vega, and La Canela, which annually produce more than 9,000 tons of potatoes, bananas, and yucca; covering more than 450 hectares of crops, and supporting hundreds of jobs.
“It should be noted that, for potatoes, the production rises to 7,000 tons that represent 8% of the total national production of the tuber,” Gerardo Díaz de León added.
