Supply-chain efficiency and sustainability in operations: Rinkesh Satija’s 2-Cents!

India’s agricultural landscape, shifting consumer demand, and growing operational complexities are restructuring the pressure points on food supply chains. For companies like PepsiCo India, strengthening farm-to-market linkages while building efficiency and responsiveness is key to sustainable growth.

In conversation with Rinkesh Satija, Vice President, E2E Supply Chain Ops, PepsiCo India & South Asia, he outlines the company’s approach to cementing farmer partnerships, boosting supply chain resilience and efficiency, and advancing investments and technology initiatives to support its growth in 2026 and beyond.

1. How is PepsiCo India working with farmers to strengthen agricultural productivity, quality and supply resilience?


Anchored in PepsiCo India’s ‘Partnership of Progress’ philosophy, we work closely with farmers and ecosystem partners to build a more resilient and scalable agricultural supply chain. We work directly and indirectly with over 36,000 farmers across 14 states, ensuring 100% local sourcing.

Our support goes beyond procurement, providing end-to-end agri assistance, including high-quality seeds, agronomic guidance, precision farming tools, weather forecasts, disease alerts, regenerative agriculture techniques and post-harvest best practices throughout the growing cycle. To strengthen soil health and productivity, we have introduced ‘Mitti Jaanch Kendras’ in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar, providing farmers with quick, data-backed soil health reports and tailored fertiliser recommendations to optimise farm-level inputs. Through PRAGATI, we are scaling agri-entrepreneurship across India, empowering 20,000 local entrepreneurs to reach 2 million farmers with regenerative agriculture practices, digital advisory, and market linkages.

Through year-round structured farmer engagement and long-term partnerships, we are strengthening consistency in quality and supply, while helping farmers enhance productivity and adopt more sustainable farming practices.

2. How is PepsiCo India strengthening its end-to-end supply chain to build greater resilience, efficiency and responsiveness?

Markets and consumer preferences today are shifting faster than most supply chains are moving. Buyers want to know where their food came from, how it was grown, and whether the land and the farmers behind it are supported as part of the process. This shift is pushing companies to redesign supply chains to be more transparent, efficient, and resilient.

At PepsiCo India, our focus is on strengthening the end-to-end supply chain architecture to make the entire system more resilient, from farm to market. We are continuously improving coordination across planning, procurement, warehousing, and logistics while investing in digitisation and advanced demand forecasting. Integrated systems allow real-time visibility across sourcing and distribution, helping optimise inventory movement, reduce inefficiencies, and improve logistics planning.

At the same time, our work with farmers through soil health initiatives and regenerative agriculture practices helps improve crop consistency and supply reliability. Together, these efforts help us manage logistics costs while maintaining strong service levels across markets.

3. What new investments, technologies, or infrastructure projects is PepsiCo India planning or undertaking in 2026 to strengthen its supply chain and distribution network?

PepsiCo India is focusing on initiatives that strengthen its distribution network while reducing the environmental impact of transportation. As a key step in this direction, we launched the Kosi–Pataudi EV Green Corridor in early 2026. As a key step in this direction, we launched the Kosi–Pataudi EV Green Corridor in early 2026. The corridor operates with thirteen 32-foot electric container trucks and is expected to enable approximately 6 lakh electric kilometres annually.

We have also electrified more than 800 distributor-linked vehicles to electric three- and four-wheelers across markets, directly reducing emissions at the last mile of delivery. Continuing with our commitment to decarbonising our fleet, we have also launched two EVs in Assam, along with a dedicated charging station at our Assam facility. This initiative is expected to enable the decarbonisation of approximately 120,000 km annually. In the National Capital Region, we have deployed over 80 CNG vehicles through our logistics partners, as part of our strategy to lower the environmental footprint of urban logistics. This reflects our commitment to building a supply chain that is cleaner, more efficient, and future-ready.

4. How is PepsiCo India embedding sustainability into its manufacturing and supply chain operations, beyond reducing emissions?

At PepsiCo India, we believe business growth and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Sustainability is not a standalone agenda; it is embedded in how we operate, source and grow. Guided by PepsiCo Positive (pep+) and our Partnership for Progress philosophy, we are working across the value chain to improve resource efficiency, strengthen agriculture and advance circularity.

Across our operations, we focus on conserving resources, reducing waste and building more circular systems. Through our Sustainable Water Resource Development and Management (SWRDM) programme, we have achieved over 100% water replenishment in Pune, Sangrur and Mathura. Through Kosi WASH, more than 50,000 people have gained access to safe water.

In agriculture, we work closely with farmers to promote regenerative practices that improve soil health, optimise water use and strengthen livelihoods. Initiatives include microirrigation, biochar technology, and soil-health interventions through Mitti Jaan Kendras.

We are also advancing cleaner transportation and sustainable mobility across our distribution network, extending our sustainability efforts beyond our own operations, and into the broader value chain.

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