Referans - Beverage and snack food producer PepsiCo has opened a research and development (R&D) center in the northwestern city of Izmit. The newly established PepsiCo Turkiye R&D Center will work on producing localized food and beverages for the company’s southeastern European markets, according to Rob Hargrove, Vice President of R&D for PepsiCo Europe. “PepsiCo has successfully left the year of crisis behind”, said Hargrove, referring to the year 2009. He added that PepsiCo will focus on “sustainable growth” through fulfilling their social, environmental, as well as employment-related responsibilities. Stating that R&D efforts are a key element in their sustainable growth policy, Hargrove said PepsiCo is increasing its R&D budget gradually every year. “Türkiye is clearly the best location for this investment”, as Hargrove explained the reasons for PepsiCo’s decision to base their R&D center in the country: “It is a market of strategic importance, not only because it has a young population with a growing food and beverages market, but because of its role as a bridge to connect cultures and continents.”