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NRF & PepsiCo Foundation Launch Retail Training Initiative
February 26,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry 
The PepsiCo Foundation intends to contribute $1 million over three years to catalyze this transformative initiative. The fund will provide critical support to workforce development organizations, community colleges and select educational institutions to equip individuals with the skills and credentials needed to secure meaningful employment and advance in retail and related industries.
The retail industry is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, supporting more than 55 million jobs, or more than one in four U.S. workers. Through this partnership, the NRF Foundation and the PepsiCo Foundation aim to reach 3,000 participants across 30 partner organizations and strengthen the talent pipeline for retail and adjacent sectors while helping individuals build confidence, career readiness and professional skills.
“Access to skills, training and opportunity is critical to advancing economic mobility,” said Monica Bauer, senior vice president, social impact at PepsiCo. “By partnering with the NRF Foundation through the Retail Training (Initiative), we are investing in people and communities by helping learners gain the credentials and capabilities they need to succeed in today’s workforce.”
This initiative empowers individuals with the skills needed to secure meaningful employment and build long-term careers. Participants receive the opportunity to gain foundational employability skills such as customer service, operational and technical proficiencies, industry-specific knowledge, professional development and industry-recognized credentials.
“The NRF Foundation helps retailers discover and develop future leaders by delivering retail training and provides retail scholarships each year,” NRF Foundation Executive Director and National Retail Federation Senior Vice President Adam Lukoskie said. “The PepsiCo Foundation’s support of our new NRF Foundation Retail Training Fund will increase our reach and impact, propelling the job seekers of today to become the retail leaders of tomorrow.”
The NRF Foundation Retail Training Initiative directly aligns with the PepsiCo Foundation’s broader focus on workforce development and economic mobility, supporting pathways to prosperity for individuals while meeting the evolving talent needs of one of the nation’s most critical industries.