PepsiCo Inc, the world's second-largest soft-drink maker, opened its largest research center outside the US in China on Tuesday, as it seeks to boost sales in the world's most populous country and the Asian region.

PepsiCo based in Purchase, New York said on Tuesday that the facility will help tailor drink and snack-food brands to Asian taste buds and develop new products for China and the region. The new center in Shanghai is part of PepsiCo's 2010 plan to invest $2.5 billion in food and beverage businesses in China over a three-year period and expand current offerings, the company said.