PepsiCo’s new Tropolis is being positioned as a snack rather than a drink. In fact, it’s “snackifying” some of its beverages, as part of a strategy to tap into the market for more nutritious convenience foods.


PepsiCo. Inc. is turning some of its drinks into snacks. In fact, the Purchase, N.Y.-based company is hoping consumers will pay a premium for a new pureed fruit product that is thick enough to be a snack rather than a beverage. The 80-calorie fruit puree comes in brightly colored pouches, targeting moms and kids. PepsiCo'sTropicanaunit is rolling out apple, grape and cherry Tropolis pouches in test markets in the Midwest next month at $2.49 to $3.49 for a four-pack.

"We see the emerging opportunity to 'snackify' beverages and 'drinkify' snacks as the next frontier in food and beverage convenience," says Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo’s chairman and CEO. Future products might combine dairy with fruit, nuts, grains and juices, she says.

It's not certain if a niche product that is more complicated to produce and distribute than juice will be profitable for the food and beverage giant, who constantly battles rivals Coca-Cola Co. and Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. in the United States.

PepsiCo says it hopes that Tropolis should get kids to eat more fruit.