PepsiCo representatives met with civil rights leaders from the National Action Network (NAN) following Reverend Al Sharpton’s threat to lead a boycott over the company’s decision to roll back parts of its DEI efforts.
On April 4, 2025, Sharpton sent a letter to Pepsi specifying the details of a planned boycott. Sharpton then issued a statement on Tuesday, April 15, stating that he and several members of NAN had a “constructive conversation” with PepsiCo Chairman Ramon Laguarta and PepsiCo North America CEO Steven Williams.
PepsiCo changing its commitment to DEI efforts
Reuters reported that in February, the food and beverage company announced it would sunset its DEI workforce representation goals and change its chief DEI officer to a wider role, looking into associate engagement and leadership development.
In a memo to company associates, CEO Ramon Laguarta said it is also amending its DEI program as 2025 marks the end of its five-year strategy and will introduce a new “Inclusion for Growth.”
PepsiCo meeting with Reverend Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton and civil rights leaders from NAN met with representatives from PepsiCo at PepsiCo’s global headquarters in Purchase, NY, “to discuss our grievances over reports they were rolling back nearly $500 million in DEI commitments,” according to AFROTECH.
“After that continued dialogue, NAN Chairman Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson and I, both former members of the company’s African American Advisory Board, will make a final determination and recommendation to the organization on what we will do around PepsiCo moving forward, as we continue to deal with a broader swath of corporations with whom we will either boycott or buy-cott,” Sharpton wrote.
40-day Target boycott
Sharpton isn’t the first leader to initiate a boycott against a company rolling back its DEI initiatives.
Pastor Jamal Bryant organised a 40-day boycott to protest Target’s rollback of DEI initiatives. The boycott began on Wednesday, March 4, coinciding with the start of Lent. Over 100,000 people pledged to boycott Target for 40 days to protest the company’s rollback of DEI initiatives. The company’s foot traffic fell for the ninth consecutive week amidst its 40-day boycott.
Image: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
#blacktech #entrepreneur #tech #afrotech #womenintech #supportblackbusiness #blackexcellence #technology #blackbusiness #blacktechmatters #blackowned #blackgirlmagic #blackpreneur #startup #innovation #hbcu #techtrap #blackownedbusiness #pitchblack #autographedmemories #blacksintech #shopblack #wocintech #nba #blackwomen #repost #hbcubuzz #blackwomenintech #startupbusiness #nails
Source link
