PepsiCo, Inc. - PEP STOCK NEWS

On July 20, 2022, Kiki Rice and Colin Sahlman were honored as the Gatorade High School Athletes of the Year at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles. Rice, a standout in both basketball and soccer, and Sahlman, recognized for his excellence in cross country, were celebrated for their athletic achievements and character. The event marked Gatorade's return to in-person ceremonies and introduced NFTs for nominees, with proceeds benefiting Good Sports. Established in 1985, the Gatorade Player of the Year program recognizes elite high school athletes across various sports, highlighting their achievements on and off the field.

Cheetos and Bad Bunny have launched the Deja tu Huella Fund, committing $500,000 to support Hispanic communities in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The fund will award $25,000 to 20 individuals making a positive impact. The initiative runs from July 18 to August 19, inviting participants to share their ideas on TikTok using hashtags #DejatuHuellaFund and #Entry. This campaign continues their partnership, which began in 2020, and complements PepsiCo’s $172 million commitment to support Hispanic communities over five years.

On July 12, 2022, Gatorade announced that Cade Flatt from Marshall County High School is the 2021-22 Gatorade National Boys Track and Field Player of the Year. Flatt was recognized for his exceptional athletic and academic performance, holding the No. 2 all-time high school 800-meter run record at 1:46.48. He outperformed fierce competition, leading to a prestigious win at New Balance Nationals Outdoor. Cade, who maintains a weighted GPA of 4.13, will continue his athletic career with a scholarship at the University of Mississippi.

Gatorade has named Juliette Whittaker from Mount de Sales Academy as the 2021-22 Gatorade National Girls Track and Field Player of the Year. Whittaker's outstanding performance includes setting a national high school record in the 800-meter run at the USATF U20 Championships with a time of 1:59.04. The selection committee recognized her athletic and academic excellence, alongside her leadership and community service, as she maintains a GPA of 4.46 and has signed a National Letter of Intent with Stanford University.

PepsiCo, through its Foundation, has announced an expansion of its Food for Good program to combat global food insecurity, which affects 345 million people. The Foundation is investing over $35 million since 2021 to support small-scale farmers and improve access to nutritious food. New initiatives include a podcast, a video series highlighting community efforts, and a partnership with FEED to sell a tote bag that provides meals to children. PepsiCo aims to help 50 million people by 2030 and has already delivered over 245 million meals since 2009.

The U.S. Trend Index by Frito-Lay reveals significant insights into consumer snacking habits. A remarkable 90% of daily snackers prioritize the ethics and sustainability practices of snack companies. Key findings show that 87% value employee treatment, while 77% consider sustainability. Innovative flavor combinations are crucial, with 35% of consumers stating it influences their choices over packaging or brand recognition. The trend shows younger consumers are more interested in sustainable practices, yet flavor remains central across all demographics.