PepsiCo to Acquire Naked Juice

PURCHASE, N.Y. - PepsicCo announced yesterday that it will acquire Azusa, Calif.-based Naked Juice from private equity firm North Castle Partners. Naked Juice, maker of a line of 25 super premium juices and ready to drink smoothies, is estimated to have annual sales of more than $150 million, and in a prepared statement, Chief Executive Officer Monty Sharma said that the Pepsi acquisition would allow the company to expand its distribution network. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. The acquisition marks the third “better for you” food company that PepsiCo has picked up in recent months. Early this year it completed the purchase of Stacy‘s Pita Chips, and in September, it announced that it would acquire Izze Beverages, makers of sparkling, no-sugar-added juices.