
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ today announced that PepsiCo will become its official beverage partner beginning July 1.
PepsiCo’s relationship with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ is built on a commitment to enhancing the student experience, innovating around sustainability, supporting the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµâ€™s diversity, equity and inclusion goals, and creating more positive impacts for all.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ will offer the full suite of PepsiCo products in its three main campuses, hospitals and athletics venues for the next 10 years. The relationship is valued at more than $24.92 million, with an additional $2.4 million in PepsiCo products.
“We’re very pleased to welcome PepsiCo as a partner and sponsor. Their commitment to supporting core Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ values — the Husky Experience; diversity, equity and inclusion; and sustainability — will expand our capacity to provide a world-class education for students and increase access to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ,â€� Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ President Ana Mari Cauce said.
A committee of representatives from across the University — including all three campuses, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Medicine and Intercollegiate Athletics — unanimously selected PepsiCo in a competitive bidding process.
“We at PepsiCo are excited and honored for the opportunity to partner with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ as their exclusive beverage provider,â€� said Shay Hobby, senior vice president of Commercial, PepsiCo Beverages North America – West Division. “Through this partnership, we are committed to making a positive impact on the Husky student experience and community. We are grateful for Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµâ€™s collaboration and excited to share this news with our passionate Pepsi teammates who live in that community.â€�
By becoming a Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ signature partner, PepsiCo will:
- Support the student experience by funding scholarships that uplift diversity, equity, and inclusion and for students serving in the military at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Bothell, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Tacoma and on the Seattle campus
- Boost student exposure to career opportunities, with specialized programming at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Bothell, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Tacoma, and on the Seattle campus through Student Life and the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity. PepsiCo also will provide real-world job experience by hiring student ambassadors to represent its brand at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ.
- Help fight food insecurity among the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ student population with direct support to the Any Hungry Husky food assistance program
- Limit and reduce beverage packaging and single-use containers, seeking solutions to minimize waste and shift toward clean energy by endowing an on-campus innovation fund
- Provide Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Athletics with Gatorade sports beverages and offer Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ coaches access to the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, a team of researchers working to optimize sports nutrition. PepsiCo also will support the Athletics Impact Fund in Intercollegiate Athletics.
- Promote more positive impacts, pledging that two-thirds of PepsiCo’s product line will contain 100 calories or fewer per 12-ounce serving by 2025 all as a part of its pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) transformation initiative, which centers on sustainability and inspires positive change for the planet and people
PepsiCo equipment is scheduled to be installed across the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ campuses this summer. For more information click here or contact uwnews@uw.edu.
###
Here’s what other Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ leaders said about the new partnership:
“Pepsi’s commitment to invest in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ will help the university advance important efforts across the three campuses,â€� said Rickey Hall, the university’s diversity officer and vice president of the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity. “Investing in these programs places a college education in reach for more students, from more parts of Washington, and will help with efforts to create more accessible and welcoming campuses.â€�
“PepsiCo’s commitment to supporting the Husky student experience is terrific! From scholarships to career opportunities, this partnership will benefit Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ students for years to come,” said Denzil Suite, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Vice President for Student Life.
“We are excited to welcome Pepsi to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ,â€� said Pamela Schreiber, assistant vice president for Student Life and executive director of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Housing & Food Services. “We look forward to a partnership with shared values and priorities, and ensuring a variety of product options across our campus dining operations.â€�
“We are excited about bringing PepsiCo and their full range of product offerings to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ,â€� said Jen Cohen, director of Athletics. “We know our partnership will be extremely beneficial for our student-athletes, staff and Husky Nation, and the opportunities that are created from our collective collaboration will make an incredible impact both on campus and in the community.â€�
“We commend PepsiCo’s movement towards healthier drinks and wellness and its commitment to sustainability, equity and diversity for a better future,â€� said Cynthia Dold, interim president of Hospitals & Clinics, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Medicine.
“Gatorade is a trusted brand in the sports beverage industry that is backed by the work they do at the Gatorade Sport Science Institute,� said Mike Dillon, associate athletic director for Health & Wellness. “We are thrilled to have access to their extensive product line that spans hydration, fueling and recovery as well as direct access to the research and support from GSSI. Gatorade has a long-standing history in the world of sports and constantly prioritizes the overall student-athlete experience.�
“The announcement of this partnership is perfectly timed with the opening of our Terrace Dining Pavilion later this summer,â€� said Scott James, vice chancellor for the Division of Enrollment Management & Student Affairs, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Bothell. “We welcome PepsiCo to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Bothell campus and look forward to collaborating on ways to enrich opportunities for our students.â€�
“We are excited to partner with PepsiCo to punch up the flavor of the student experience on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Tacoma campus. Their support for scholarships, internships, sustainability initiatives and events like Convocation will immeasurably strengthen the Husky community,â€� said Mentha Hynes-Wilson, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Tacoma.
(Editor’s note: Due to an internal miscommunication, the original content of this news release was edited after publication. The full, original text has been restored.)