PepsiCo puts $160 million into potato chips production in the Almaty region
American PepsiCo will allocate $160 million for a new potato chip manufacturing site in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan. This factory is going to be the biggest such project in Central Asia. The project is expected to create 1,000 jobs during the construction process and 350 permanent jobs after it is completed in 2026.
The country’s government says the manufacturing site will fully rely on local raw materials and boost the region’s development.
The project details were discussed by Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and David Manzini, president for Russia and CIS at PepsiCo, whereas the general arrangement on the launch of salty snack production, including Lays potato chips in the Almaty region, was reached by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Ramon Laguarta, CEO of PepsiCo.
Once the factory is fully operational in 2026, it will produce 16,000 tons of product per year and 21,000 tons starting from 2027, supplying it to Kazakhstani domestic market, other Central Asian countries and farther abroad.
According to Manzini, the company is already negotiating with Kazakhstani potato farms. As he noted, the future factory is going to be highly advanced and ecologically sustainable by recycling and disposing its wastes.
In turn, Bektenov highlighted that this project is a top priority for the government of Kazakhstan, which is going to keep an eye on the construction as such massive investments are capable of diversifying the country’s economy. Apart from the food industry, the project will have a positive impact on various sectors such as transport logistics, packaging and agricultural product processing.
«The United States is one of the major investment partners of Kazakhstan. We are interested in the long-term cooperation with strategic investors like PepsiCo and we are ready to provide them with all the necessary support,» Bektenov underlined.
Lays has been producing potato chips since 1938. PepsiCo Inc. controls this company through Frito-Lay. In June 2023, Lays launched the production of chips with the flavor of beshbarmak, the national dish in Kazakhstan.
