PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo, Inc. has acquired Mabel, a manufacturer of cookies, crackers and snacks that is based in Brazil. Brands owned by the company include Mabel, Elbi’s, Kelly and Skiny. Terms of the agreement were not announced.

“PepsiCo continues to build its global macro-snacks portfolio and make strategic investments that will drive our business performance and unlock long-term growth opportunities,” said John Compton, chief executive officer of PepsiCo Americas Foods and Global Snacks Group. “Brazil is an extremely important market for PepsiCo and this acquisition well positions us in a key segment in the snack category there.”

PepsiCo said the biscuit segment is the largest snack category in Brazil, present in more than 98% of Brazilian households. The country is the second largest cookie and cracker producer in the world.

“Mabel is an important part of our plans for Brazil,” said Olivier Weber, president of PepsiCo South America, Caribbean and Central America Foods. “It’s a company with a long history of providing Brazilian consumers with great-tasting products and trusted brands they know and love, and we're excited for them to become part of the PepsiCo family.”

With the acquisition, PepsiCo will employ 12,000 in Brazil and operate 19 facilities in the country.