PepsiCo Foundation donates US$6.5 million to provide nutritious meals to communities affected by COVID-19 in Latin America

• PepsiCo’s support will provide more than 11 million meals to 70,000 beneficiaries in twelve countries: the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Guatemala.

• The PepsiCo Foundation will partner with three NGOs to implement this relief strategy: The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), Save The Children and Un Kilo de Ayuda.

 

Santo Domingo, DR. – In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the PepsiCo Foundation announces a regional emergency relief strategy for Latin America, including a US$6.5 million donation to support access to nutritious food for vulnerable communities in 12 countries (the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Guatemala). The company is also committed to supporting its employees during these difficult times.

 

The PepsiCo Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, will join non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), Save the Children (STC Mexico) and Un Kilo de Ayuda (Mexico) to reach high-risk groups of citizens, particularly in terms of food security. The donation will strengthen local institutions’ capacity to serve affected populations and provide urgently needed nutrition in the face of the challenges posed by the pandemic, such as school closures and the logistical difficulties created by social distancing measures.

 

Because of social distancing measures, children in Latin America will be out of school temporarily, meaning they have no access to important basic services such as school meals. Through this effort, PepsiCo’s donation will deliver more than 11 million meals to around 70,000 beneficiaries, with a special focus on children.

 

“Through this donation, more than 70,000 children in Latin America who are not getting their daily calorie intake will have access to meals. Our main goal as a food and beverage company is to provide high-quality products in the communities where we operate, and that is what we are doing,” said Paula Santilli, CEO of PepsiCo Latin America.

 

Lisa Moon, President and CEO of The Global FoodBanking Network, said: “We are extremely grateful for PepsiCo’s incredible support in reaching the world’s most vulnerable communities. Thanks to this partnership and donation, we will be able to help children and families facing hunger during this unprecedented time.”

 

PepsiCo also recognises the importance of supporting employees during this difficult time, from sharing and implementing prevention and safety measures to providing support in case of infection. To recognise the very important role employees play in our business, support plans have been developed in each country in line with local laws.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic poses urgent challenges for everyone on a global scale. During this difficult time, PepsiCo wants to reinforce its commitment to its employees and the communities where it operates.

 

About PepsiCo

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 $67 billion in net revenue in 2019, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 23 brands that each generate more than $1 billion in estimated annual retail sales.

Our vision is to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. “Winning with Purpose” reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of the business. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com

About the PepsiCo Foundation

Established in 1962, the PepsiCo Foundation, PepsiCo’s philanthropic arm, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with the mission of supporting thriving communities. Working with non-profit organisations and experts around the world, we focus on helping to alleviate hunger, manage water and waste responsibly, and support women as champions of nutrition from farm to family. We strive to create tangible impact in the places where we live and work, collaborating with industry peers, local and international organisations and our employees to achieve large-scale change on issues that matter to us and are of global importance. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com/sustainability/philanthropy.

 

About The Global FoodBanking Network:

The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) is an international non-profit organisation that nourishes the world’s hungry by uniting and advancing food banks in more than 42 countries. GFN focuses on combating hunger and preventing food waste by providing expertise, directing resources, sharing knowledge and developing connections that increase efficiency, ensure food safety and reach more people facing hunger. Last year, 943 GFN member food banks rescued more than 500 million kilograms of food and grocery products and redirected them to feed 9.6 million people through a network of more than 55,000 social service and community organisations. For more information, visit www.foodbanking.org