PepsiCo, Inc. - PEP STOCK NEWS

PepsiCo's Cheetos brand introduces Cheetos Mac 'n Cheese, merging the beloved snack with pasta. Launching on August 8, the product will be available in three flavors: Bold & Cheesy, Flamin' Hot, and Cheesy Jalapeño, priced at 98 cents each at Walmart stores. This innovation reflects Cheetos' culinary evolution and aims to capitalize on rising home meal trends. The collaboration leverages strengths from both Frito-Lay and Quaker Foods divisions, promising unique flavor experiences.

Gatorade has announced the winners of its 2020 High School Athlete of the Year awards, recognizing Paige Bueckers as the Female Athlete and Arik Gilbert as the Male Athlete. Bueckers, a standout basketball player from Minnesota, led her team to an undefeated record and was named Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year. Meanwhile, Gilbert, a top football prospect from Georgia, secured the state title for his school. Both athletes are noted for their significant achievements and community contributions, exemplifying excellence in sports and academics.

The Board of Directors of PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.0225 per share, marking a 7% increase from the previous year. This aligns with PepsiCo's annualized dividend increase to $4.09 per share, effective from the June 2020 payment. The latest dividend will be payable on September 30, 2020, to shareholders on record as of September 4, 2020. PepsiCo has consistently paid cash dividends since 1965, celebrating its 48th consecutive annual increase in 2020.

Doritos announces the return of its iconic "Crash the Super Bowl" campaign with "Crash from Home", inviting fans to create commercials for the NFL Kickoff weekend on September 13. Participants can win $150,000 and gain exposure through Doritos' social channels. Entries are due by July 28 and winners will be announced on August 3. This initiative builds on the successful history of the original campaign, which awarded over $7 million in prizes. Additionally, Doritos and parent company PepsiCo are investing in community support initiatives, including the #AmplifyBlackVoices campaign.

PepsiCo has elected Segun Agbaje as an independent member of its Board of Directors, effective July 15, 2020. Agbaje, the current CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank, brings extensive experience in business transformation and understanding of complex markets, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. His appointment is part of PepsiCo's strategy to expand in this region following the acquisition of Pioneer Foods. Agbaje will also join the Audit Committee, contributing valuable insights into technology and sustainable growth.

Nico Young from Newbury Park High School has been named the 2019-20 Gatorade National Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, marking a historic achievement as he is now the second athlete to win two Gatorade Player of the Year awards in the same year. Young's remarkable performance included a time of 13:50.55 in the 5000-meter run, breaking the state record by 11 seconds. His achievements reflect not only athletic prowess but also academic excellence with a GPA of 4.68. Young is a finalist for Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year, with the announcement set for July.

The Gatorade Company has named Taylor Ewert of Beavercreek High School as the 2019-20 Gatorade National Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year. This prestigious honor recognizes her exceptional performance and character among over one million student-athletes nationwide. Ewert is a standout, holding multiple national high school records in race-walking and achieving top times in various track events. She maintained a 3.49 GPA and is set to run at the University of Arkansas. Previously, Gatorade award winners have included renowned athletes like Peyton Manning and Derek Jeter.

On June 18, 2020, PepsiCo announced the launch of SodaStream Professional, an eco-friendly hydration platform designed for away-from-home channels. Following a successful pilot, this platform allows individuals to personalize and track their beverage intake digitally, aiming to reduce single-use plastic. Available commercially in fall 2020, SodaStream Professional caters to various locations, including workplaces and airports, promoting health and sustainability. PepsiCo's initiative could prevent 67 billion single-use plastic bottles from reaching landfills by 2025.