PepsiCo, Inc. - PEP STOCK NEWS

PepsiCo (PEP) has launched 'Taste of Tomorrow', a $350,000 initiative to increase Black representation in STEM careers, focusing on food science and technology at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The program includes:

1. $250,000 in scholarships for STEM students across 9 HBCUs for the 2025 school year.

2. $100,000 for STEM resources at Florida A&M University and Prairie View A&M University.

3. R&D educational workshops and on-campus culinary innovations by Pepsi Zero Sugar and Doritos.

The initiative aims to address the underrepresentation of Black professionals in STEM, who currently make up only 9% of the workforce. PepsiCo is partnering with rapper and HBCU alum 2 Chainz to promote the program and inspire students.

Jack Link's and Frito-Lay have launched a campaign called 'Meat Your Inner Flavor' targeting Gen Z job seekers. The promotion encourages young professionals to embrace their unique personalities by creating flavor-fied headshots using 'Flavor Filters' on meatyourinnerflavor.com. Participants can enter for a chance to win $5,000 and experiences inspired by bold careers like lead guitarist, stallion trainer, or race car driver.

The campaign, running through September 15, 2024, ties into the brands' new video series showcasing their collaborative snack line, including Jack Link's Flamin' Hot, Fritos Chili Cheese, and Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili flavored meat snacks. Winners will receive a gift card for an experience, cash, and office snacks featuring the new product line.

PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos launched the third year of its Jefa-Owned campaign on National Latina Day, celebrating Latina small business owners. The campaign introduces a national 'Jefa Hour' movement from 4-6 p.m. local time on August 23, encouraging people to dine at Latina-owned restaurants. Actress Stephanie Beatriz and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce join as partners.

Key initiatives include:

• A $200,000 grant program for 20 women entrepreneurs in food and beverage
• Business Health Accelerator and Boost Camp for grant recipients
• Access to PepsiCo's Hispanic Digital & Delivery Program
• Jefa Empowerment Sessions in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago

The campaign aims to provide resources, enhance visibility, and build community for Latina entrepreneurs, particularly in restaurants, bodegas, and carnicerías.

DORITOS® is making history with its minis COOL RANCH® Zero Gravity Flavored Tortilla Chips, the brand's first-ever space chip. Specially formulated to maintain flavor in zero gravity, these chips are part of a partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® and the Polaris Dawn mission. The initiative aims to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research and treatment.

Doritos is donating $500,000 to St. Jude and encouraging fans to donate at StJude.org/DoritosInSpace for a chance to try the -edition chips in glow-in-the-dark packaging. The space mission is set to launch no earlier than August 26. While the space-specific chips are , fans can still enjoy the classic DORITOS® minis COOL RANCH® Flavored Tortilla Chips available nationwide.

Lay's, America's favorite potato chip brand, is introducing a new Global Flavors lineup featuring three -time flavors inspired by international cuisines. The new offerings include Lay's Wavy Tzatziki (Greece), Lay's Masala (India), and Lay's Honey Butter (Korea). These flavors aim to provide consumers with a culinary voyage without leaving the country.

To promote the new lineup, Lay's is offering fans the chance to win a trip to one of the flavor origin countries. Consumers can enter the contest between August 12 and September 28 by scanning a QR code on the product packaging or visiting laysflavordrop.com. The new flavors are available at retailers nationwide and on Snacks.com for a time.

Gatorade and the Miami Dolphins hosted a 'Get Fit for School' event for Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade youth members, combining sports and academics. The initiative, part of Gatorade's Equity in Sports program, provided students with backpacks, school supplies, and sports equipment. Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins' quarterback, participated in distributing supplies.

The event highlights the positive correlation between physical activity and academic performance in youth. Gatorade's broader efforts include fundraising for nearly 500 students across Florida and partnering with DICK's Foundation's Sports Matter program to provide $10,000 in grants to local organizations promoting youth sports access.

PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.355 per share, representing a 7% increase from the previous year. This aligns with the company's earlier announcement of raising its annualized dividend to $5.42 per share from $5.06. The dividend is payable on September 30, 2024, to shareholders of record as of September 6, 2024. This marks PepsiCo's 52nd consecutive annual dividend increase, highlighting its commitment to shareholder returns. The company has maintained a consistent track record of paying quarterly cash dividends since 1965, demonstrating its financial stability and dedication to rewarding investors.

The Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Sports 4 Life program with a historic $500,000 grant pool distributed to 50 organizations across 22 states and Washington, D.C. This initiative, co-founded by ESPN and supported by Gatorade, aims to empower Black, African-American, Hispanic, and Native American girls through sports.

The program has funded 254 organizations since its inception, providing $2.8 million in grants to nearly 90,000 girls participating in over 40 sports. This year's milestone was amplified by a special donation from WNBA legend Sue Bird in partnership with CarMax. The grants cover a wide range of sports, including figure skating, flag football, and skateboarding.

According to WSF's research, Sports 4 Life has had a significant impact on participants, with 97% of girls agreeing they would persist in reaching their goals and 92% reporting improved grades. The program continues to expand its reach, with 35 of the 50 community organizations being new recipients this year.

PepsiCo Foods North America has launched the Planting Pathways Initiative to expand opportunities in the agriculture sector. This initiative aims to address the aging farmer population and promote diversity in the industry. Key components include:

1. Partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa to support underrepresented and beginning farmers with business plans, coaching, capital, and training.

2. Collaboration with Farm Foundation to create the Field to Future program, offering college students career development support, mentorships, and internships within PepsiCo.

The initiative aligns with PepsiCo's pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) transformation, supporting its Positive Agriculture agenda to create a more resilient and inclusive food system.