Pepsico could emerge as bidder in Yoplait sale

PepsiCo's growing stress on dairy, highlighted by its acquisition of Russia's Wimm-Bill-Dann, could see it emerge as a bidder for Yoplait – if it has the stomach to risk being decried by France again.

PepsiCo, which wants to triple sales of so-called "nutritious and functional" foods to $30bn by 2020, highlighted its enthusiasm for dairy on Thursday when unveiling the $3.8bn purchase of a controlling stake in milk-and-juice group Wimm-Bill-Dann.

Indra Nooyi, the PepsiCo chairman and chief executive:
 

“Dairy has a huge, untapped potential to bridge snacks and beverages.”

This, analysts at Evolution said, could lead PepsiCo to bid for the 50% of Yoplait, the world's second biggest yoghurt maker, that private equity group PAI has put up for sale.