The Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) is pleased to announce that The Coca-Cola Company is the winner of the Second annual Jackie B. Trujillo SOAR Award. Sponsored by U.S. Foodservice, the WFF SOAR award celebrates companies who are the Standard-setters for Opportunity, Advancement and Recognition of women leaders in their organization.
This year WFF partnered with DiversityInc on ground-breaking research based on their Top 50 Companies for Diversity survey to quantitatively measure gender diversity in the foodservice industry. DiversityInc is a broad-based business-to-business publisher that conducts research across an array of industries. Companies considered for the WFF SOAR Award must demonstrate consistent strength in three key measures: CEO Commitment, Human Capital and Corporate Communications. These are the key factors that are quantitatively evaluated to determine the leading corporations demonstrating gender diversity and inclusion within their organization.
“The Coca-Cola Company has demonstrated exceptional success in providing opportunities for the advancement of women leaders,” said Mary Bentley, WFF president. “We congratulate Coca-Cola for supporting the industry-wide mission of elevating women leaders and creating a culture in which female employees are supported and encouraged to seek and achieve their highest potential.”
“The Coca-Cola Company is truly committed to the ideals of gender diversity, and for our organization to be recognized for our progress is very, very satisfying,” said Chris Lowe, president Coca-Cola FoodService. “Workplace diversity is a business imperative of the highest order, and more than worth the effort. We are honored to support the work of WFF, a dynamic, passionate organization committed to gender diversity and inclusion.”
“U.S. Foodservice is committed to greater diversity and inclusion among our associates, customers, suppliers and communities,” said Juliette Pryor, chief diversity officer and deputy general counsel for U.S. Foodservice. “We are proud to support the Women’s Foodservice Forum and to sponsor the Jackie B. Trujillo SOAR Award honoring those who have led the way in developing and promoting women in our great industry.”
Named after a founding member of the WFF and a true pioneer in the foodservice industry, Jackie B.Trujillo rose from a car-hop to the Chairman of the Board of the largest KFC franchise in history. She not only spurred women leaders forward in her organization, but opened doors for more women to be elevated in the foodservice industry. The SOAR award is the highest honor an organization can receive from the WFF. It recognizes and measures the efforts that companies are making to elevate more women leaders in foodservice. Doing so will ensure that the industry as a whole continues to thrive, because as research has demonstrated, gender diverse work teams produce better financial results.
