PepsiCo, Inc.

Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)Founded 1965

Market Data Current As Of: September 12, 2026

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PepsiCo, Inc.

Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)Founded 1965

Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya

Last reviewed: September 12, 2026

Market Data Current As Of: September 12, 2026

Founders

Who Founded PepsiCo?

Caleb Bradham, Donald M. Kendall, Herman W. Lay · Founded 1965 · Purchase, New York, United States

Quick Answer

PepsiCo was founded by Caleb Bradham, Donald M. Kendall, Herman W. Lay in 1965 in Purchase, New York, United States. The company is currently led by Ramon Laguarta.

Founding Story

In 1898, North Carolina pharmacist Caleb Bradham invented 'Pepsi-Cola' in his drugstore, formulating a refreshing concoction of carbonated water, sugar, vanilla, and kola nuts to aid digestion. Decades later in 1965, Donald M. Kendall (CEO of Pepsi-Cola) and Herman W. Lay (founder of Frito-Lay) recognized an ingenious commercial synergy: consumers who buy a bag of salty potato chips almost invariably want a cold, refreshing beverage to wash it down. Kendall and Lay merged their two companies on June 8, 1965, creating PepsiCo. By combining Frito-Lay's unmatched Direct-Store-Delivery truck network with Pepsi-Cola's global marketing genius, Kendall and Lay created a consumer packaged goods empire that revolutionized retail merchandising.

Caleb Bradham

Background

Caleb Bradham was an American pharmacist from Chinquapin, North Carolina, who graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Role at PepsiCo, Inc.

Caleb Bradham was the inventor of Pepsi-Cola. In 1898, in his New Bern pharmacy, Bradham formulated the cola recipe to serve refreshing drinks to customers. Bradham incorporated the Pepsi-Cola Company in 1902, pioneering modern beverage advertising with racecar driver Barney Oldfield before sugar market volatility forced a restructuring in the 1920s.

Donald M. Kendall

Background

Donald Kendall was a legendary American business executive and former CEO of the Pepsi-Cola Company who served in the US Navy during World War II.

Role at PepsiCo, Inc.

Donald Kendall was the primary architect of modern PepsiCo. In 1965, Kendall partnered with Herman Lay to merge Pepsi-Cola with Frito-Lay, creating PepsiCo. Kendall led the company for two decades, negotiating the historic deal to bring Pepsi to the Soviet Union in 1972 and launching the 'Pepsi Challenge' advertising campaign.

Herman W. Lay

Background

Herman Lay was a pioneering American snack food entrepreneur who built H.W. Lay & Company into the largest snack food business in the American South.

Role at PepsiCo, Inc.

Herman Lay was the founding co-architect of PepsiCo and founder of Lay's potato chips. Lay pioneered the Direct-Store-Delivery truck system, merging with The Frito Company in 1961 and co-founding PepsiCo with Donald Kendall in 1965.

PepsiCo, Inc.: CEO & Leadership History

Full timeline →

Jamie Caulfield

Chief Financial Officer

2023 – Present

Experienced financial strategist directing capital allocation, share repurchase programs, and multi-year margin expansion.

Ramon Laguarta

Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer

2018 – Present

Veteran international leader; launched the 'PepsiCo Positive' (pep+) sustainability transformation, scaled Celsius distribution, and drove revenue past $91.5B.

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Who Founded PepsiCo? FAQ

Who founded PepsiCo, Inc. and in what year was it established?

PepsiCo, Inc. was founded in 1965 by Caleb Bradham, Donald M. Kendall, Herman W. Lay in Purchase, New York, United States.

What was the original founding vision for PepsiCo, Inc.?

The founders established PepsiCo, Inc. with the objective of solving core inefficiencies in Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Savory Snacks, Nutrition & Food Manufacturing, laying the foundation for its current global scale.

How does PepsiCo, Inc. preserve its founding principles today?