During this 222nd episode of “Marketing Today,” I interview Scott Finlow, the chief marketing officer of PepsiCo’s foodservice business.

On the show today, we talk about PepsiCo’s push into sustainability, specifically the Beyond the Bottle initiative. We also talk about PepsiCo and their foodservice division’s beta testing of SodaStream Professional and many other topics. 

Finlow begins by talking about his long career with PepsiCo and the always energizing environment there. We then talk about PepsiCo’s impressive sustainability initiatives. Finlow says, “we have a vision of a world where plastic will never become waste.” Then we talk about SodaStream as part of the PepsiCo portfolio as well as SodaStream Professional. He says, “we did a ton of work to understand the different ways that people are now drinking water.” The insights gained from this research led PepsiCo to see the connection between water consumption and big goals consumers have. Finlow tells us about the significant work PepsiCo is doing to serve communities during COVID-19, and he notes, “it’s helped elevate our empathy muscle in terms of understanding people.” This discussion highlights the way a mission-driven organization can make a real impact.

Highlights from this week’s “Marketing Today”:

  • Scott’s 21-year career at PepsiCo. 01:23
  • Other significant positions in Scott’s career. 02:49
  • Explaining the foodservice side of the business. 06:41
  • PepsiCo’s sustainability initiatives. 09:25
  • SodaStream Professional’s place in PepsiCo’s portfolio. 13:03
  • The SodaStream Professional experience. 14:52
  • Insights that helped launch the SodaStream Professional platform. 16:06
  • Beta testing for SodaStream Professional. 18:32
  • The impact of COVID-19 at PepsiCo. 20:23
  • Partnering with Guy Fieri and Bill Murray. 25:58
  • Scott shares a defining experience. 28:02
  • Scott reflects on advice he would give to his younger self. 29:48
  • Scott shares about an impactful purchase he made in the last 6-12 months. 32:41
  • Are there any brands, companies, or causes that Scott follows that he thinks other people should take notice of? 34:45
  • Scott’s take on the top opportunity and threat facing marketers today. 37:34

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Alan B. Hart is the creator and host of “Marketing Today with Alan Hart,” a weekly podcast where he interviews leading global marketing professionals and business leaders. Alan advises leading executives and marketing teams on opportunities around brand, customer experience, innovation, and growth. He has consulted with Fortune 100 companies, but he is an entrepreneur at his core, having founded or served as an executive for nine startups.