Growing not slowing

However, PepsiCo itself may need an energy boost after reporting on 13 February that its fourth-quarter net income was USD 719 million, or 46 cents a share, down 43 percent from USD 1.26 billion, or 77 cents a share, a year earlier.

Like its rival Coca-Cola, PepsiCo suffered significant losses during the fourth quarter as one-time items such as restructuring and impairment charges added up to USD 900 million. Currently PepsiCo is axing 3,300 of its 185,000 jobs globally.

Without these charges, earnings rose to 88 cents a share from 79 cents a share.

Revenue climbed 3.1 percent to USD 12.7 billion as volume increased 2 percent for snacks and 1 percent for beverages.

North American beverage volume slid 6 percent and dropped 1 percent for the snack business, though revenue and profit still rose on price hikes.

International profits were up 4 percent and sales increased 12 percent as volume rose 8 percent for snacks and 14 percent for beverages.

The company has been giving particular focus to its overseas operations, including plans to spend USD 500 million in India and to make acquisitions in markets such as Russia.

While The Coca-Cola Company increased its revenue in 2008 by 11 percent to USD 31.9 billion, PepsiCo rose its revenue 10 percent to USD 43.3 billion.