Sharpton Urges Pepsi Boycott Over Firing of Black Workers in Distribution Dispute
Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network (NAN) are calling for a national boycott of PepsiCo products following the dismissal of 15 Black workers at a Wisconsin bottling plant. The move raises fresh concerns about racial equity and corporate accountability within the FMCG sector.
Speaking at a press conference in New York earlier this week, Sharpton alleged that PepsiCo allowed—and failed to prevent—racially discriminatory practices by Brown Bottling Group, the independent distributor at the center of the controversy. The workers, all African American, claim they were unfairly terminated in retaliation after organizing to voice concerns about workplace discrimination, including being passed over for promotions and enduring a hostile environment.
“We will not stand by while Pepsi profits from Black consumers and then turns a blind eye when Black workers are mistreated,” said Sharpton, urging consumers to withhold purchases of Pepsi, Gatorade, Tropicana, and other products under the PepsiCo umbrella until the company takes action.
NAN has formally requested a meeting with PepsiCo’s leadership to address the firings, investigate the racial discrimination claims, and implement greater oversight for third-party distributors. According to the workers’ attorneys, documentation suggests the company was aware of the labor dispute but chose not to intervene. PepsiCo has stated that it is not involved in the daily operations of independently owned bottling partners but is reviewing the complaints internally.
This confrontation places broader pressure on FMCG corporations to examine supplier and distributor relationships, particularly when it comes to upholding diversity, equity, and inclusion standards beyond corporate headquarters. With African Americans representing a significant share of FMCG consumer demographics, brand loyalty and public perception are increasingly tied to how companies address systemic issues throughout their supply chains.
Sharpton emphasized that unless PepsiCo rehires the terminated workers and institutes policy changes to prevent future incidents, the boycott will continue and could elevate to protests at retail locations nationwide.
The call for action coincides with growing demand from consumers and advocacy groups for greater transparency and accountability in how major brands manage racial equity within contractor and franchise networks—a sector often overlooked in public diversity audits and ESG reporting.