PepsiAmericas Provides On-Site Housing for Employees Left Homeless by Hurricane Katrina; Two-Bedroom Trailers, Laundromat and Vending Set-up in Warehouse the Size of Two City Blocks

Business Wire, Oct 5, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS -- Many of the people left homeless by Hurricane Katrina still have jobs. The trouble is they don't have a home or a means to get to and from work. Recognizing this agonizing situation, PepsiAmericas, Inc. (NYSE:PAS) is setting up a mini-town in a warehouse facility spared by the storm so workers can begin rebuilding their lives.

Beginning this week, affected workers at the company's Harahan, La., distribution center will begin moving their families into 36 two-bedroom trailers parked inside available space within an 185,000-square-foot warehouse. Harahan is located in Jefferson Parish, one of the areas most directly impacted by the hurricane. The company is also using trailers to provide laundry facilities and vending and storage. Employees and their families will be allowed to stay on the property until their homes are reestablished.

"Our main mission right now is to provide housing for employees who are interested in coming back to the area so they can resume working again," said Rita Weary, human resources manager for the company's southern division. "We want to help people get back on their feet."

PepsiAmericas will also provide families basic supplies such as bedding and toiletries to get them settled. SAM'S CLUB, one of PepsiAmericas biggest customers, is providing merchandise to assist the families being housed in the facility.

The PepsiAmericas Harahan facility employs 160 people.

PepsiAmericas is the second largest Pepsi bottler with operations in the U.S., Central Europe, and the Caribbean. PepsiAmericas manufactures, distributes and markets a broad portfolio of Pepsi-Cola, and other national and regional brands. PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) beneficially owns an approximately 42 percent equity interest in PepsiAmericas. Additional information on PepsiAmericas is available at www.pepsiamericas.com.