"We congratulate PepsiCo for supporting the industry-wide mission of elevating women leaders in foodservice," said Paula Marshall, WFF chair. "PepsiCo has successfully created a culture in which female employees are given full, unrestrained access to resources, support and encouragement that allows them to seek and achieve the highest levels of professional and personal success."
According to the WFF, PepsiCo's leadership in the food and beverage industry has included a demonstrated success in providing opportunities for the advancement of women leaders. Its current board composition is 29% females and 29% minorities and females make up 27% of officer positions. The soft drink manufacturer has demonstrated a strong positive trend to improving gender diversity at senior levels and has a published values statement that specifically calls out diversity, inclusion and respect.
PepsiCo has an active Women's Initiative Network and offers both formal and informal mentoring programs within their organization. Employees receive regular companywide communication surrounding diversity and gender issues in which a high value is placed on gender diversity as a mandatory business practice. In addition, work-life balance programs are available to all employees and the company has set quantified goals to improve gender diversity in those areas identified as inadequate.
"PepsiCo is proud to accept this prestigious award from the Women's Foodservice Forum," said Chris Furman, president, PepsiCo Foodservice. "Diversity isn't just the right thing to do. It's the right thing to do for our business, and we're committed to making diversity and inclusion a way of life at PepsiCo. We are very excited to be acknowledged by the WFF for our work in this area. The WFF is making a significant, positive impact on the foodservice industry by supporting and advancing its mission of Elevating Women Leaders and enhancing the industry's business performance through gender diverse leadership."
The Jackie B. Trujillo SOAR Award is presented each year at the WFF Annual Leadership Luncheon during the National Restaurant Association's Hotel-Motel Show. Named after a founding member of the WFF and a true pioneer in the foodservice industry, Trujillo rose from a car-hop to the chairman of the board of the largest KFC franchise in their history.
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