The Hershey Company has been named the world’s most female-friendly company by Forbes and market research company Statista. The World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies list included several other food and beverage companies, such as Diageo (#15) and Coca-Cola HBC (#51).
To create the list, Forbes surveyed 85,000 women in 40 countries on factors such as parental leave, pay equity, and the number of women in executive and board-level positions. Respondents were also asked about how their companies use their platforms and marketing messages for either promoting gender equality or perpetuating negative stereotypes.
Hershey, which has been led by a woman, Michelle Buck, since 2017, made the top spot by making strides toward professional progress for women, even in the face of the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the company achieved pay equity in the U.S., and they have their sights set on closing their pay gap globally, according to chief diversity officer, Alicia Petross. “Pay equity is a vital component to ensuring that women continue advancing in this industry and in others,” Petross said.
Here are all of the food and beverage companies that made the list:
- #1 The Hershey Company
- #15 Diageo
- #51 Coca-Cola HBC
- #62 Pernod Ricard
- #70 Bonduelle
- #73 Coca-Cola
- #102 McCain Foods
- #123 Ingredion
- #166 Kellogg
- #171 Hormel Foods
- #176 Danone
- #197 Jollibee Foods
- #214 Glanbia
- #219 Anheuser-Busch InBev
- #220 Maple Leaf Foods
- #272 Kerry Group
- #285 Groupe Bel
- #294 Campbell Soup
