PepsiCo UK Expands Food Waste Initiative with Social Impact Hiring
PepsiCo UK is deepening its commitment to sustainability and community engagement through an expanded partnership with food redistribution charity FareShare and social impact startup Company Shop Group. The initiative focuses on minimizing food waste while supporting employment opportunities for individuals facing barriers to the job market.
Through its Global Foodbanking Network, PepsiCo has operated long-standing food waste reduction programs. In the UK, the latest push aims to redistribute 10 million meals by 2030 using surplus products from its Walkers snack brand and other household favorites. Last year alone, the company helped divert over 1,300 tonnes of food—equivalent to more than 3 million meals—from waste streams to communities in need.
In a notable expansion, PepsiCo is now channeling part of this effort into workforce reintegration. The company has collaborated with Company Shop Group to create job placements within its reclaimed food redistribution centers. These roles are targeted at individuals often excluded from traditional employment pathways, including those experiencing long-term unemployment, poverty, or other socio-economic disadvantages.
“We believe that tackling food waste and inequality go hand in hand,” said PepsiCo UK’s Sustainability and Engagement Manager Helen Bird. “By redistributing surplus food and creating employment pathways, we’re helping build more resilient communities.”
The program also supports PepsiCo’s wider ESG strategy, including goals to halve food waste in its direct operations by 2030 and promote a more circular food system. The initiative aligns with broader UK retail trends prioritizing sustainability, cost-efficiency, and social impact. Rising consumer interest in ethical sourcing and reduced environmental footprints is putting added pressure on FMCG players to rethink waste and supply chain practices.
According to FareShare, food insecurity in the UK remains at significant levels, with millions experiencing limited access to nutritious food. Partnerships like this allow manufacturers to respond with both immediate and long-term solutions—redistributing edible surplus and empowering communities through job opportunities.
As retailers and producers look to build ESG into core operations, PepsiCo UK’s hybrid approach offers a scalable model for reducing waste, improving resilience, and driving measurable social impact within the FMCG sector.