PepsiCo has unveiled plans to reduce the sugar content in its sodas and ice teas by 25% in the EU by 2025 in a bid to boost its appeal to health-consciousconsumers in the firm’s second largest market.

Within the plans, PepsiCo is aiming to introduce healthy snacks to its range, launch low-fat brands to new markets and reformulate products using low-calorie sweeteners.

Drinks firms have been urged to reduce added sugar in sodas, particularly in Europe, where a number of countries have imposed taxes on fruit juices, sodas and flavoured waters to tackle health and obesity issues, Reuters reports.

PepsiCo Europe's Chief Executive Officer Silviu Popovici stated: "In Europe today, almost one in three beverages we sell is sugar-free and we believe this trend will continue to grow over time.”

In 2020, close to a fifth of PepsiCo's overall sales were registered in Europe, the second largest revenue generating region after North America.

The firm is aiming for a 25% reduction in added sugar levels by 2025, the report goes on to add, as well as a 50% reduction in soft drinks including Pepsi-Cola, Lipton Ice Tea and 7UP sold throughout Europe.

With the focus shifting to making healthy options the fastest growing market within the next four years, PepsiCo forecasts sales to increase tenfold by 2025, growing to a $1 billion portfolio by 2030.

UNESDA, which represents Europe's soft drinks industry, said earlier this week it is concentrating on lowering average added sugars in drinks by 10%, to take the overall reduction over the past 20 years to 33%.