She is PepsiCo: Celebrating Women Working in Supply Chain

PepsiCo is recognising the work of women in frontline positions in its global supply chain through its She is PepsiCo strategy. Their work on the frontline of its supply operation are a key component in the work of procurement and supply chain teams through the company. 

The campaign will include recognition of women who work in frontline roles in markets around the world, showcasing their transformative abilities, and helping to recruit even more to apply for frontline roles. The annual programme rebrands some of the company's highly visible delivery trucks with the names and faces of She is PepsiCo honorees. Featuring photos of these employees in their work settings, in place of the company's brands, is at the heart of how the global campaign aims to celebrate and empower women.

Gartner survey of women in supply chain

Research from Gartner in 2023 showed women made up 41% of the total supply chain workforce, up from 39% in 2022. The same survey also found when you look specifically at frontline representation in the supply chain workforce, women filled just 31% of these roles. Women account for about half of the U.S. labour force, but represent less than one-third of the manufacturing workforce.

A goal of the She is PepsiCo campaign is for the company's workforce to mirror the communities where it operates. This is reflected in PepsiCo's Supply Chain senior leadership. Karen Jordan is the Chief Supply Chain Officer for PBNA, and Laura Maxwell is the Chief Supply Chain Officer for PepsiCo Foods North America (PFNA). Jordan began her career at PepsiCo as an Integrated Planning Manager in New York in 2002, while Maxwell kicked off her career at PepsiCo as a Plant Project Engineer in Iowa in 1989. Jordan and Maxwell collectively lead nearly 100,000 frontline employees spanning operations, transportation, and manufacturing for PepsiCo's $55 billion North American business units (in 2023 net revenue).

Women growing careers in PepsiCo supply chains 

The She is PepsiCo campaign demonstrates how women can build and grow a meaningful frontline career at PepsiCo supported by the tools and culture to nurture their continued development.

"Getting more women to apply for frontline roles isn't just beneficial for the employees, their families and the communities where we operate — it's also important to our business," said Becky Schmitt, Chief Human Resource Officer, PepsiCo. "PepsiCo wants women to clearly see the career opportunities that are available to them and hear from the women who are thriving in frontline careers, and beyond. We hope people who see these trucks in markets around the world will be inspired to apply for a role at PepsiCo." 

There are more than two dozen women across the United States and Canada who are named as 2024 She is PepsiCo honorees. The women being recognised work as truck drivers, mechanics, merchandisers, and warehouse loaders, among other frontline roles, and make the work of procurement and supply teams possible. Each of the women will be honoured at local truck-unveiling events, where they will see their name and photo on a PepsiCo truck that will roll through their community. 

"This is the third year we're honouring PBNA's exemplary frontline women through She is PepsiCo and I'm always moved by the individual career journeys of the honorees and the important role they each play in our business — making, moving and selling our products," said Andrea Ferrara, Chief Human Resource Officer, PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA).  "Our business truly relies on excellence in these frontline roles. I am proud that PBNA creates these unique moments of recognition to help drive belonging for all our employees, making a large company feel small."

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a beverage and convenience foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream.

Make sure you check out the latest edition of Procurement Magazine and also sign up to our global conference series - Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE 2024 

**************

Procurement Magazine is a BizClik brand