Actress Stephanie
Beatriz, and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,
Join This Year's Campaign to Uplift Jefa-Owned Small
Businesses on National Latina Day; PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos
Commits $440,000 to Support Women
Founders in Food and Beverage Industry
PURCHASE, N.Y., Aug. 20,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Latina small business
owners are the embodiment of the modern-day American dream,
ambitious and entrepreneurial. In celebration of National
Latina Day, today PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos (Together We Grow)
launched year three of its signature Jefa-Owned (owned by a
Latina boss) campaign to recognize the economic, cultural, and
community contributions of Jefa-Owned businesses -
particularly restaurants, bodegas and carnicerías (meat markets).
The campaign aims to provide business-building resources, enhance
business visibility, and build community for Latina
entrepreneurs.
In partnership with actress and philanthropist Stephanie Beatriz and the United States Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), both of which are champions for
Hispanic empowerment and excellence, PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos
kicks off a national effort to shine a spotlight on Latina
entrepreneurs and encourage consumers to dine at Jefa-Owned
businesses. Central to this year's campaign is a new grant and
mentorship program designed to address the unique challenges faced
by women entrepreneurs.
PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos Grant Program
PepsiCo
Juntos Crecemos will award $200,000 in grants to 20 women entrepreneurs in
the food and beverage category to grow and scale their business.
The grant application period will be open from August 20 to September 27.
Grant recipients will also gain access to the Business Health
Accelerator and Boost Camp, a digital community space
offering business coaching workshops on, mentorship, networking and
more. Additionally, all grant recipients will receive access to the
PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos Hispanic Digital & Delivery
Program, a five-week series which includes personalized
consultations on delivery logistics, technology, marketing, and
search engine optimization (SEO) - a package valued at about
$12,000 per participant.
"We launched Jefa-Owned in 2022 to shine a spotlight on
Latina-owned small businesses while helping to address the unique
challenges they face at every stage of their entrepreneurial
journey," said Esperanza Teasdale,
Vice President & General Manager, Hispanic Business Unit,
PepsiCo Beverages North America. "Three years into this effort,
PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos has supported hundreds
of Jefa-Owned businesses through various programs and
initiatives and remains committed to helping them thrive, through
financial, educational, and community building resources."
"Jefa Hour" Movement
On August
23, PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos will host its first-ever
"Jefa Hour" initiative from 4-6 p.m.
local time. This national call-to-action invites foodies and
restaurant-goers across the country to discover, dine, and
celebrate Hispanic cuisine at their local Latina-owned restaurants.
To make it easier to discover local eats, PepsiCo Juntos
Crecemos curated a list of diverse Latina-owned restaurants in
key cities - New York,
Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami. For more information, visit
pepsicojuntoscrecemos.com/jefaowned.
Lending her voice to this year's campaign is actress
Stephanie Beatriz, a long-standing
advocate for Latina equality and representation across industries.
Stephanie joins PepsiCo, and the USHCC to bring awareness to unique
challenges facing Latina small business owners while promoting
Latina restaurants and businesses across the country during "Jefa
Hour" and beyond.
"In recent years, we've seen an amazing wave of support for
Latinas across all areas of business. That's why I'm so honored to
serve as an ambassador for the Jefa-Owned campaign and
contribute to the spark for renewed Latina empowerment," said
Beatriz. "I love the idea behind the "Jefa Hour" initiative because
we can make a significant impact on their businesses in just a
couple hours," she added.
Jefa Empowerment Sessions
During the month
of August, PepsiCo will host a series of Jefa Empowerment Sessions
in four major cities across the country for women small business
owners. These intimate events** will feature some of the most
credible voices in the areas of business development, leadership,
women empowerment, and more, including executives from the USHCC,
and PepsiCo. The sessions aim to create a stronger sense of
community and further strengthen the economic and entrepreneurial
prowess of Latina small business owners. Jefa Empowerment Sessions
will be held at:
- Bistró Casa Azul, New York
City (August 26, 6:30 - 8:00 PM EST)
- Zingo Tacos, Los Angeles, CA
(August 27, 6:30 - 8:00 PM PST)
- Dora's Bakery and Bistro, Miami,
FL (August 28, 6:30 - 8:00 PM EST)
- Mi Tierra, Chicago, IL (August
29, 6:30 - 8:00 PM CDT)
"Latina entrepreneurs are not just building businesses; they are
driving innovation, inclusion, and vibrancy within the economic
landscape," said Antonio Escalona,
Senior Vice President, Emerging Business, PepsiCo Foods North
America. "We are proud to join forces with the United States
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to support entrepreneurs in
turning their visions into reality and strengthen the jefa
community at large."
"With Latina entrepreneurs launching businesses at six times the
national rate, the Jefa-Owned campaign is crucial in
supporting their growth and success," said Evelyn Barahona, USHCC Senior Vice President,
Educational Fund. "We are proud to champion these efforts, which
align with our commitment to ensure that jefas across the
country have everything they need to thrive and continue their
vital contributions to the American economy," she added.
For more information about the grant program, the "Jefa Hour"
dining initiative, and to reserve a spot at the Jefa
Empowerment Sessions, visit
pepsicojuntoscrecemos.com/jefaowned.
** Attendance at the Jefa Empowerment Sessions is limited. RSVP
required.
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 $86
billion in net revenue in 2022, driven by a complementary
beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes
Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew,
Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide
range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic
brands that generate more than $1
billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in
Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo
Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that
puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will
create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries
and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more
information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on Twitter,
Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
About United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is America's largest
Hispanic small business advocacy group, representing over 260 local
chambers and business associations nationwide, and partners with
hundreds of major American corporations. Now in its 45th year, the
USHCC actively promotes the economic growth, development, and
interests of more than five million Hispanic-owned businesses that,
combined, contribute over $800
billion to the American economy every year. Recognizing the
$3.2 trillion GDP contribution of
U.S. Latinos, a vital force in the economy, the Chamber is
dedicated to supporting their interests nationwide.
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SOURCE PepsiCo, Inc.
