June 28, 2010
Yum! Brands Inc., parent of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver's and A&W Restaurants, again has been named one of Black Enterprise magazine’s “40 Best Companies for Diversity” for its comprehensive results across key diversity measures. This is the sixth consecutive year the company has been recognized.
The magazine evaluated diversity programs, consulted with diversity experts and surveyed over 1,000 of the country's largest public companies and 50 leading global companies with significant U.S. operations. The magazine made its selection based on the number of African-Americans and members of other ethnic minority groups in four categories including supplier diversity, senior management, board of directors and total employee base. Black Enterprise reported that supplier diversity and total employee base are two areas in which Yum! Brands is particularly strong.
"We are truly proud of this distinction and the progress we have made to date on creating a diverse and inclusive culture and are committed to doing even more in the years ahead," said David Novak, chairman and CEO, Yum! Brands Inc. in a news release.
For the past several years, Yum! Brands has been recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion. More than 50 percent of Yum!’s U.S. workforce are minorities as well as more than 50 percent of the company’s new hires. Yum!’s strategy for leveraging diversity also includes franchising and supplier diversity.
Earlier this month, KFC announced a renewed commitment to diversity during a presentation at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition & Citizenship Education Fund annual conference. KFC president Roger Eaton shared the company's new commitments and outlined plans to grow the number of minority franchisees, employees and suppliers in its system and the plans to increase marketing dollars spent with minority-owned agencies.
Burger King Corp. and McDonald's Corp. also were recognized by the magazine for their diversity programs.
Black Enterprise's sixth annual list of the best companies for diversity is featured in the July 2010 edition.