I recently had the honour of being appointed President of PepsiCo UK & Ireland. There is no doubt that I have taken responsibility for my company at a time of great challenge and change. But I believe it is also a time of great opportunity.

In recent years we have responded to rising public concerns about health and obesity by tackling the core of our business through reformulation on saturates and salt, building strong no-sugar cola brands and acquiring Quaker and Tropicana. We are proud of what we have done. But we recognise that it is no longer enough. We want to become a champion of change not just react to it.

As the new President I want to apply our values of Performance with Purpose, and our expertise and work ethic, to transform for the better what UK consumers eat and drink. I want us to be a powerful agent of positive change in the UK food and drink industry.

Over the next few years we will do two things. We will expand our delivery of positive nutrition - fruit, fibre, wholegrain, vegetables and micronutrients. But we will do something even more significant. We will renovate the core of our business, transforming the savoury snack and soft drink categories. By 2020 I want our profit and growth to be driven by healthier products.

Of course this is not pure altruism. It goes with the grain of where consumers are going. And companies that anticipate the consumer will always have real strategic advantage.

But nor is it pure self-interest. Change is not pain-free. The changes we seek to make will take time, effort and resources. This Report sets out our journey and charts a clear direction of travel. We will not get to our destination overnight and inevitably some will want us to go further and faster.

But the changes we propose are real and achievable. They are tangible commitments to which we positively invite stakeholders to hold us to account.

I believe companies like PepsiCo have a responsibility to lead change - and to be accountable for it.

Richard Evans
President of PepsiCo UK & Ireland