Which company did PepsiCo acquire in 2001 to obtain Quaker Oats and Gatorade?

PepsiCo acquired The Quaker Oats Company in 2001 to obtain Quaker Oats and Gatorade.

The transaction brought PepsiCo a major breakfast-food business and, more importantly for beverages, Gatorade. Gatorade had become one of the best-known sports-drink brands in the United States after being developed at the University of Florida in the 1960s. The acquisition strengthened PepsiCo's position beyond carbonated soft drinks.

The deal was completed in 2001 after PepsiCo outbid rival Coca-Cola in a contest for Quaker Oats. Gatorade then became a major part of PepsiCo's beverage portfolio, while Quaker products remained associated with foods such as oatmeal and breakfast cereals.

This acquisition is often confused with PepsiCo's purchase of Tropicana in 1998 or SodaStream in 2018. Those were separate transactions involving different companies and brands. The specific corporate buyer in the Gatorade deal was The Quaker Oats Company.