FDBusiness.com

PepsiCo’s flagship global brands Lay’s, Gatorade and Pepsi MAX are joining forces with the UEFA Champions League as global beverages and foods giant has entered a new partnership with the prestigious European club football tournament. PepsiCo’s agreement with the UEFA Champions League will officially begin on July 1, prior to the start of the 2015/16 season. Lay’s /Walkers, Gatorade and Pepsi MAX will serve as lead brands for the tournament. In addition, PepsiCo will also integrate Doritos, Lipton and 7UP brands into the sponsorship programme. The move takes PepsiCo’s long-standing relationship with great football to another level.

Ramon Laguarta, chief executive of PepsiCo Europe, comments: “The UEFA Champions League is without a doubt one of the most prestigious football competitions in the world, and with more than a billion football fans watching the matches every season, this new partnership offers unprecedented opportunities for both parties. We’re passionate about football and we can’t wait to share that passion with UEFA Champions League fans in Europe and around the world.”

Ramon Laguarta, CEO of PepsiCo Europe.

He adds: “PepsiCo’s food and beverage brands, combined with the power of the UEFA Champions League, are a perfect fit. In joining forces we can create great opportunities for friends and families to come together and enjoy themselves. Together we will take the union between football and entertainment to new heights and UEFA Champions League fans can expect some fantastic new experiences from Lay’s, Gatorade, Pepsi MAX as we head into the 2015/16 season. Stay tuned!”

Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA Events SA marketing director, says: “PepsiCo is a truly global partner, and we are excited to be working closely with them on engaging fans across the world through innovative marketing activations, while also benefiting from their extensive experience in the entertainment area to further enhance the UEFA Champions League brand.”

The UEFA Champions League Final is the world’s most watched annual sporting event. The recent final was aired in more than 200 countries, reaching an estimated 400 million viewers, with an anticipated average live match viewership of 180 million. The season from the Play-Offs to Final runs over 17 match weeks with a total of 145 games. The league provides more than 110,000 hours of TV content over a season and audiences are significant regionally and globally, with 1.1 billion unique viewers of live match coverage worldwide.

Alongside its long-standing passion for football, PepsiCo also has a legacy of partnering with world-class sports leagues to develop engaging, cutting-edge content and marketing programmes. PepsiCo’s other sports league partners include the National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, Indian Premier League and International Cricket Council.