PepsiCo pushes into refrigerated fresh food with Alvalle soups and Tostitos guacamole

Alvalle, a Spanish brand of chilled soups and gazpacho, is being introduced in the U.S. for the first time this year. PepsiCo started rolling it out at select Whole Foods Market stores in August, testing how individual SKUs perform in different parts of the store.

The company also expanded into refrigerated dips this year with a Tostitos-branded guacamole line, taking the snack brand into the cold case.

Marisa Perez, senior vice president and general manager of the Fresh Experiences Portfolio at PepsiCo Foods North America, said the company views refrigerated meals and snacks as a significant opportunity to meet changing consumer tastes. She described the portfolio as an evolution reshaping PepsiCo Foods' lineup around what shoppers want today.

PepsiCo is also betting on how shoppers perceive the refrigerated aisle. NRF data cited by Perez shows 77% of consumers regard food sold in refrigerator sections as high quality. She said shoppers see those products as worth paying more for because they contain fewer preservatives than shelf-stable foods and spoil more quickly.

PepsiCo is counting on fresh food to unlock its next phase of growth as consumers look for fresh, convenient options.