PepsiCo to cut 8,700 jobs

PepsiCo expects to cut 8,700 jobs as part of a plan to save an extra $1.5 billion over the next three years, as it pours more money into its brands. PepsiCo, maker of Sierra Mist soda, Tropicana juice and Gatorade sports drink, also reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit and forecast a 5 percent decline in 2012 earnings as it increases advertising and marketing by $500 million to $600 million.     The investment will be focused on 12 brands, including Pepsi-Cola, Lay's, Gatorade, Tropicana, Doritos and 7-UP. It is trying to improve performance in North America, where it lags behind archrival Coca-Cola Co. For 2013, PepsiCo expects earnings to grow at a high-single-digit rate. The job cuts will occur in 30 countries, PepsiCo said. The $1.5 billion in extra savings is in addition to $1.5 billion it already planned to save over that period. PepsiCo also said that Massimo D'Amore, president of its Global Beverages Group, would retire at the end of February.   The company reported a fourth-quarter profit of $1.42 billion, or 89 cents per share, up from $1.37 billion, or 85 cents per share, a year earlier.