PepsiCo Australia and the Shift 20 Initiative forge new partnership to bolster disability inclusivity

PepsiCo Australia and the Shift 20 Initiative have today announced a new partnership, recognising PepsiCo as an Official Brand Partner of the Shift 20 Initiative with two of its iconic brands, Red Rock Deli and Gatorade. Almost 20%, or 4 million Australians, live with disability, yet only 1% of people with disability are represented within advertising.

Pioneered by the Dylan Alcott Foundation, the Shift 20 Initiative represents a coalition of the nation’s top brands working towards increased disability representation, inclusion and accessibility in marketing and communications.

With the aim to shift perceptions of individuals with disability through increased representation, the new partnership will see PepsiCo working with Shift 20 to develop new campaigns for Red Rock Deli and Gatorade that are inclusive of disability.

PepsiCo staff will also benefit from Shift 20’s ongoing training and education around disability representation and inclusion alongside other Shift 20 Partners.

The partnership forms part of PepsiCo Australia’s ongoing DE&I commitment to fostering a diverse workforce and creating a collaborative, equitable and inclusive space.

Says Kyle Faulconer, CEO ANZ at PepsiCo: “We are so proud to join the Shift 20 Initiative in its mission to influence positive change for every Australian living with a disability. Creating a diverse environment that puts its people first is at the heart of how we operate at PepsiCo, and we look forward to furthering our efforts in this space with Shift 20.”

Says Priya Addams Williams, Shift 20 Initiative Lead at the Dylan Alcott Foundation: “We are so excited to have PepsiCo on board as a Shift 20 Partner. To have such iconic brands recognise the importance of disability representation and inclusion is huge and we’re looking forward to consulting on future campaigns for Gatorade and Red Rock Deli to ensure that we’re representing the nearly 20% of Australians who live with disability.”

The partnership, already in motion, will last for 12 months until October 2025.

The Shift 20 Initiative was created by the Dylan Alcott Foundation, Special Group, and some of Australia’s leading brands to increase representation, inclusion and accessibility for people living with disability in marketing and communications. The Initiative demonstrates the importance of disability representation and inclusion, by encouraging brands to commit to fair representation of people with disability, whilst providing the opportunity and opening doors for people with disability to see themselves on screen.