According to Steve Cahillane, Kellogg’s chairman and CEO, it was the company’s founder, WK Kellogg who instilled the company mantra that doing good for society is a critical part of running a good business.
“That’s why we’ve always worked hard to make sure that our company and business practices deliver benefits to people, our communities and the planet,” said Cahillane.
Today, the company has been recognised as a Top 50 Company for Diversity by Diversity Inc, and has achieved a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
“Fostering a diverse workforce and supplier base creates a real competitive advantage,” he added.
“Being able to give other women someone they can look up to is what makes me do what I do every day.” – Belinda Tumbers, MD, Kellogg AMEA.
At the coalface
The report – entitled Features – contains a raft of personal stories from Kellogg employees from around the world, as well as many case studies of how it is connecting people to drive its Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) strategy.
For example, this year, Kellogg participated for the first time in the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council’s Student Entrepreneur Programme, which matches mentors from Fortune 500 companies with student entrepreneurs to grow the next generation of women-owned businesses.
It also was one of the first companies to join the Mexican government’s Youth Building the Future programme to help disadvantaged youths; commemorated Ramadan values with its Sadaqah Ready Pack; and extended its partnership with Fundación Ginac, a local non-profit in Spain, to provide employment for local people with physical and mental disabilities at its Valls plant.
“D&I challenges the organisation to ideate, respond and execute differently to meet the needs of the diverse customers and consumers we serve.” - Carey H, senior director of sales, North American region.
Nourishing the world
“Features celebrates the many ways our inclusive culture is nourishing the world, in every way possible,” said Priscilla Koranteng, VP of global talent and chief diversity officer.
“When people feel a sense of belonging and empowerment, we can better meet our business goals and serve the needs of our consumers with fresh thinking, product innovations and quality brands.”
Diversity snapshot
- Both its global leadership team and Board of directors comprise seven men and five women
- Globally, 36.2% of its salaried/production workforce is female, compared to 36.9% in 2018
- 42% of the company’s management is female versus 40.7% in 2018
- 34.7% of its salaried/production workforce in the US is made up of people of colour, compared to 38.7% in 2018
- 19.2% of its management comprise people of colour, up from 18.5% in 2018
- 5% of its workforce is made up of US veterans, same as 2018
- In 2018, the company spent $467m (8.31%) of its total North American budget with 149 certified diverse suppliers
- In 2018, more than 91% of Kellogg’s cash and in-kind contributions were donated to organizations that serve people in need, such as Feeding America and United Way
“I know we have a long way to go. But, as a millennial, I think by living the values of integrity and respect, we will naturally become more inclusive and more diverse.” – Celia R, corporate affairs supervisor, Latin American region.
