Diversity drives culture and business at Yum! Brands, world's largest restaurant company

Posted on June 06, 2008 by Ginger Watford

Yum! Brands, Inc., with more than 34,000 restaurants in over 100 countries, is the parent to A&W Restaurants, KFC, Long John Silver's, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

As the world's largest restaurant company with more than 850,000 employees around the world, our continued success in the marketplace depends on creating an environment where all people are valued, appreciated, and have the opportunity to grow and learn. That is why we have built a global culture focused on respect and recognition.

One of our founding "How We Work Together" principles states: "We believe in people, trust in positive intentions, encourage ideas from everyone, and actively develop a workforce that is diverse in style and background."

Moreover, Yum! is committed to realizing the business benefits of driving diversity and inclusion by developing current and future business leaders, franchisees and suppliers who reflect the changing demographics of our customers.

Everyone in the company - from senior leaders at the Restaurant Support Center to team members in restaurants - is accountable for fostering an inclusive, diverse workplace culture.

"Yum! Brands' commitment to diversity helps drive all aspect of our business," said David C. Novak, Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, Inc. "It's important that our global culture is actively developing a workforce with a broad mix of backgrounds and viewpoints at all levels of management. Building on our diverse foundation at all of brands gives us a competitive edge."

That competitive edge is as important in the world of franchise operations as it is in restaurants owned by the company.

"Actively developing a workforce that is diverse in style and background applies to our franchising efforts as well as to our company restaurant operations," said Scott Haner, Vice President, Development for Yum! Brands, Inc. "Diversity is not a strategy or program at Yum! Brands. It's a shared commitment by all of us to uphold the company's founding truths and live our 'How We Work Together' principles every day. It's the way we do business."

Yum! Brands is actively looking for minority franchisees to bring the company's great brands to more customers.

Not all brands are available in all trade areas. This article is not an offer (which can only be made via prospectus).

Yum! Brands continues to be recognized for its efforts in developing a diverse workforce. Here is additional information about the company's commitment to diversity:

• Named one of FORTUNE magazine's "Top 50 Employers for Minorities" for the past three years and named one of FORTUNE's "Top 50 Employers for Women."
  
  
• Recognized one of the "Top 30 Best Companies for Diversity" by BLACK ENTERPRISE Magazine and one of the "Corporate 100 Companies Providing Opportunities for Hispanics" by Hispanic Magazine.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• More than 40 percent of Yum's restaurant managers and above store employees are minorities.
  
  
• Nearly 50 percent of Yum's U.S. workforce are women.
  
  
• Supports franchise and supplier diversity organizations including: National Minority Supplier Development Council; MultiCultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance; National Minority Franchise Initiative and the International Franchise Association's Diversity Institute, among others.
  
  
• Supports leading minority community organizations including: Congressional Black Caucus; NAACP; National Urban League; League of United Latin American Citizens; Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute; National Council of La Raza; United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; U.S. Pan Asian Chamber of Commerce; Organization of Chinese Americans and the Women's Foodservice Forum (WFF), among others.
  
  
• Committed approximately $1 million to the Louisville-based Muhammad Ali Center (an international cultural and educational institution), for the advancement of humanity worldwide and $250,000 for the creation of the Children's Educational Center as part of the Kentucky Center for African-American Heritage.
  
  
• Philanthropies include helping children in need through hunger relief, extended-hour day-care, youth literacy and leadership development for at-risk teens.