By John Q. Hosedrinker 
PepsiCo will cut nearly 20% of its product offerings and prices by early next year as part of a deal with activist investor Elliott Investment Management. The company aims to invest in marketing and improve value for consumers, while also accelerating the introduction of new offerings with simpler ingredients. These changes come after Elliott took a $4 billion stake in PepsiCo and cited concerns about strategic clarity and profitability. PepsiCo expects organic revenue to grow between 2% and 4% in 2026 and plans to review its supply chain, along with ongoing changes to its board.
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PepsiCo to cut prices, eliminate products as part of a deal with an activist investor.
Well, this is certainly a headline that’s got people talking, and honestly, I can see why. It looks like PepsiCo is shaking things up, and a big part of that involves an “activist investor.” Now, “activist investor” sounds a bit intimidating, doesn’t it? But really, they’re just someone with a significant stake in the company, pushing for changes they believe will improve things. I mean, shouldn’t any owner with a considerable investment want the company to do better? It makes you wonder how the management team responds to the concerns of those who hold the company’s shares.
One of the most immediate changes expected is price cuts, and that’s something a lot of us can get behind. The cost of “cheap food,” especially sugary drinks, has gotten absolutely wild. It used to be that these were the affordable treats, but lately, they’ve become quite pricey. It’s frustrating to see a 12-pack of soda at $10 or more, especially when you know what it costs to make the stuff. I mean, the price of the ingredients and production is apparently a fraction of the retail price. It feels like we’re being squeezed, and a price cut would be a welcome relief.
The other part of this deal involves eliminating products. This is where things get a bit more personal, right? Because we all have our favorite flavors and drinks that we’d hate to see disappear. Some of you have mentioned losing favorite flavors like Pepsi Mango Zero, and the discontinued Diet Mountain Dew Baja Blast. Product discontinuation is always a tricky move, and you have to wonder if the decision-makers are actually listening to their customers. What if they cut Peach Rockstar? It feels like the company is constantly changing things up and not always for the better, making a lot of consumers upset.
It’s interesting to think about the soda market right now. The industry has gone through some wild changes, and they’re struggling to keep stock. The marketing and pricing have shifted, with different sizes and flavors only available in certain regions. The collaboration flavors often don’t deliver, and the whole experience can be frustrating for the consumer. It’s hard to ignore that some of these changes feel like they are being made without customer feedback and preference being accounted for.
And then there’s the whole “diet” drink situation. It’s a bit of a mind game, isn’t it? The artificial sweeteners in “diet” drinks are often more sweet than the regular versions, and the idea is to get your brain craving sweetness. It gets your body wanting to eat and drink more “sweets” This makes me think about what a new sugar free version of an existing product can achieve. I really would like to see some experimentation with the formula of these drinks, but without the addition of weird artificial sweeteners.
Beyond the specific flavors and prices, there’s a larger point here about the soda industry itself. And of course the consumer buying habits that allow these corporations to raise prices. The fact that the price of many popular brands is now as expensive as beers is crazy. There are so many brands under the PepsiCo umbrella. The industry does have a tendency to get a bit carried away with its marketing, and it’s easy to wonder whether the people running the show are really in touch with what consumers want.
Finally, there’s the impact this all has on us. We’re the ones who ultimately decide the success of these companies. If the company makes a good choice and the prices drop, and the company still makes your favorite flavors available, everyone wins. However, if the company continues to make the wrong decisions, consumers have the ability to make changes with the use of their wallet. Remember that it’s worth it to use our purchasing power to let these massive corporations know what we want.