The Hershey Co. and the Kellogg Co. were both named as Top 50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc.
Hershey is in the midst of its five-year plan, the Pathways Project, to make the company more diverse and inclusive, and earned spot No. 3 on the annual list. The candy company improved three spots this year.
“At Hershey, we know that diversity, equity and inclusion are key to long-term success—not just for our workforce but for the communities where we live and work,” said Alicia Petross, chief diversity officer at The Hershey Co. “Recognition on DiversityInc's flagship list—amongst best-in-class champions of DEI—reaffirms and fuels our commitment to advance these initiatives.”
The Pathways Project helps the company bring in a wider range of talent, develop talent and show up for consumers and communities in new ways.
The Hershey, Pennsylvania-based company’s other recent initiatives include Future CEO, a mentorship program for young girls and Hershey leaders, and Say Hola, a bilingual manufacturing facility.
Results from Hershey's DEI initiatives include:
- 58% diverse representation on Hershey’s board of directors.
- 44% diverse representation and a global workforce with nearly 50% gender representation.
- An established goal of quadrupling its investments with diverse suppliers by 2030, helping to promote economic equality and opportunity for diverse-owned businesses.
- In 2019, Hershey achieved 1:1 gender pay equity, and in 2021, 1:1 aggregate people of color pay equity for salaried employees on an aggregated basis in the United States.
- By 2025, Hershey strives to achieve aggregate dollar-for-dollar pay equity for salaried employees worldwide.
- Continued investments in Milton Hershey School, which provides a free K-12 education to children from marginalized communities with the Fostering Next Generation program.
The Kellogg Co., No. 26, has been on DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity list for 12 consecutive years.
Kellogg focuses on driving tangible leadership commitments; equity, diversity and inclusion learning solutions; talent development; strategic partnerships and embedding a multicultural commercial strategy to achieve sustainable results and create an equitable environment for our employees, according to the company.
“We must give each person the unique resources and support they need to fulfill their potential, and we expect a tangible and visible commitment from our leadership, our employees and our partners. To live our vision and fulfill our purpose, we must ensure equity for all,” said Samantha Thomas-Berry, vice president of global talent and chief diversity officer at Kellogg.
The Battle Creek, Michigan-based company’s equity, diversity and inclusion highlights include:
- An accelerated development program for racially underrepresented talent at the management level continued.
- The continued work of senior leaders to provide insight and recommendations on how to progress in racial equity.
- Comprehensive ED&I learning agenda for all company levels, including a launch of ED&I training for all manufacturing employees, the expansion of its Women’s Leadership Development program, Aspire, and the creation and development of web-based micro-learnings covering a wide range of ED&I topics, including belonging, empathy, inclusion, equity and allyship.
- Championing business employee resource groups internally and foster external relationships that drive positive impact in the workplace, marketplace and community.
- Commercial plans reflected Kellogg’s diverse employees and consumer base, leveraging insights, innovation, media assets, communications, experience plans and outlet execution.
The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity is empirically driven and based on 2022 company-submitted data in these six key areas: Leadership Accountability, Human Capital Diversity Metrics, Talent Programs, Workforce Practices, Supplier Diversity and Philanthropy. View the entire Top 50 list and specialty lists.
The Hershey Co., based in Hershey, Pa., has more than 80 brands around the world that drive $8 billion in annual revenues, including Hershey’s, Reese’s, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, SkinnyPop and Pirate’s Booty.
Kellogg is a cereal, cookie, cracker, snack and frozen-foods company. Its brands include Kellogg’s, Keebler, Special K, Pringles, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Kashi, Cheez-It, Eggo, Coco Pops, Mini-Wheats and more.
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