Which company merged with Pepsi-Cola in 1965 to create PepsiCo?

Frito-Lay merged with Pepsi-Cola in 1965 to create PepsiCo.

The merger was completed on June 8, 1965, combining Pepsi-Cola’s beverage business with Frito-Lay’s snack-food operations. The new company was named PepsiCo and eventually became a diversified food-and-drink corporation.

Frito-Lay itself had been formed in 1961 through the merger of the Frito Company and H.W. Lay & Company. Its major snack brands included Fritos and Lay’s, giving PepsiCo a substantial packaged-food business alongside Pepsi beverages.

The merger created a company with a broader product portfolio than either predecessor had alone. PepsiCo is distinct from The Coca-Cola Company, whose business has historically centered more heavily on beverages, even though both companies now market extensive non-cola products.