Kendall was at company’s helm for 2½ decades as it grew into a snack and drink juggernaut, introduced American cola to the U.S.S.R. and launched the ‘Pepsi Challenge.’
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Donald M. Kendall, who built PepsiCo Inc. into a snack-and-beverage juggernaut and introduced the Soviet Union to American cola at the height of the Cold War, died Saturday. He was 99 years old.
The executive, who grew up milking cows and finished just three semesters of college, became chief executive of Pepsi-Cola Co. PEP, -1.29% in 1963 at age 42 and presided over the company until his retirement in 1986. During that time, sales grew nearly 40-fold through acquisitions and the “Pepsi Challenge” — its high-profile marketing assault on the dominance of rival Coca-Cola Co. KO, -0.19%.
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