PEPSI WORKING ON MAJOR ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE?

UPDATE (2) 8/13/06: THE PROBLEM WITH INDRA NOOYI

Looks like PepsiCo is positioning to become the beverage of choice for all liberals. Today they announced Indra Nooyi will assume global leadership of PepsiCo. Nooyi was at the center of a controversy recently where she accused America of giving the middle-finger to the rest of the world during a business school commencement speech. Her comments generated significant bad press and PepsiCo's so-called apologies after the fact were insulting.

Considering Pepsi's TRADITIONAL American roots, Nooyi's appointment will alienate at least half of their American customer base. I'm baffled by how tone deaf Pepsi has become especially after their first run-in with Indra. Be interesting to see how this plays out. Are you telling me that PepsiCo didn't have an equally competent and less divisive candidate than Nooyi? Even Wall Street analysts were surprised by the suddenness of the Nooyi appointment.

More Updates:

Bill Hobs thoughts here.

Independent conservative here...

Bullwinkles here...

Kerfuffles here

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Comments

[Bonnie]

How can you say that by PepsiCo appointing Nooyi they will lose half of their American consumer base? That is ridiculous. Call me ignorant and out of touch, but I, along with the other "half of America" I'm sure, had never even heard of that comment she made. The only reason I'm reading this post is because I'm a marketing student that's researching PepsiCo. Get your "facts" straight before you go throwing out false statistics. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Besides, should she have accused America of giving the rest of the world the middle finger? Probably not, from a business point of view. But in a lot of ways she's right. Don't bash her for speaking her mind.

[Mike Smock]

Hi Bonnie,

Regardless of my opinion or yours, a major executive for a brand like Pepsi/Frito's, should not be making comments that might alienate a major market segment - unless - its part of an overall strategy to reach out to a specific group. Who knows, maybe Pepsico made a decision to become the snack food of choice for all democrats.