PepsiCo sells stake in Knjaz Miloš to Mattoni 1873 

SERBIA – PepsiCo, the multinational food and beverage corporation, has divested its 46.43 percent interest in Serbian soft-drinks company Knjaz Miloš to Mattoni 1873, a Czech-based beverage business, in a deal valued at nearly €90 million (US$96.2 million).  

This move marks a significant development in the beverage industry, reshaping the ownership landscape of one of Serbia’s prominent soft-drinks distributors. 

Knjaz Miloš, headquartered in Aranđelovac, Serbia, serves as the distributor for PepsiCo beverages in Serbia and Montenegro.  

Mattoni 1873’s acquisition of PepsiCo’s stake in Knjaz Miloš solidifies its position in the region and underscores its commitment to expanding its presence in the Southeast European market. 

Alessandro Pasquale, the owner and president of Mattoni 1873, expressed the company’s dedication to Knjaz Miloš’s sustainable future, emphasizing investments in quality products, innovations, and growth opportunities.  

Mattoni 1873, operating in eight countries with 11 production plants and 3,400 employees, is well-positioned to leverage its resources and expertise to drive Knjaz Miloš’s growth trajectory. 

Knjaz Miloš, known for its bottled-water brand, Tube soft drinks, and Gusto fruit juices, complements Mattoni 1873’s existing portfolio, which includes mineral-water brands like Mattoni, Magnesia, and Poděbradka.  

The acquisition aligns with Mattoni 1873’s strategic objectives to strengthen its market position and enhance its product offerings across the region. 

PepsiCo initiates green energy initiative 

In addition to the acquisition news, PepsiCo has announced a new green energy initiative in Romania as part of its PepsiCo Positive (pep+) decarbonization strategy.

The initiative involves the installation of photovoltaic panels at three sites in Dragomirești, Popești-Leordeni, and Covasna, representing a US$2.1 million investment. 

Daniel Drăgușin, supply chain director of East Balkans at PepsiCo, highlighted the significance of the renewable energy initiative in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing the company’s sustainability goals.  

“The installation of photovoltaic panels at our sites in Romania represents a significant step in reducing GHG as part of our pep+ goals, and our commitment to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our operations,” he said. 

The installation of over 3,000 photovoltaic panels across the facilities is expected to generate more than 1,300 MWh of clean energy annually, resulting in approximately 500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions reduction per year. 

PepsiCo’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond environmental benefits, as the use of photovoltaic panels also brings economic advantages.  

“In addition to driving net-zero productivity, investing in photovoltaic panels also brings economic advantages. Our own electricity production allows us to reduce costs compared to purchasing from the grid,” Dragusin concluded.

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