Top food and drink trends challenge set by PepsiCo

The manufacturer’s Go Trendsetter Challenge, launched today (January 17), aims to harness graduates’ entrepreneurial skills and identify “the next food or drink sensation”.​

Budding food and drink entrepreneurs are asked to devise their own unique food or drink product, or develop an existing PepsiCo product, pitching it to company, and explaining how they would market their innovation.

Competition finalists will be offered the opportunity to interview and win a place on one of PepsiCo’s graduate schemes. The top candidates could win a MacBook Air, an Xbox One X or Beats Headphones.

Available across nine markets​

The scheme is available across nine markets, including the UK, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Serbia, Romania, Greece, Russia and South Africa.

Becky Taylor, PepsiCo’s senior director digital, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, said successful graduates would start an international career, with the opportunity to work with the firm’s worldwide team.

“If you think you’ve got the next big idea in food and drink, and want to work in an exciting and vibrant company, we want to hear from you,”​ said Taylor.

‘The next big idea in food and drink’​

Tim Warner, the firm’s vice president insights and analytics, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and global innovation insights practice added: “Our Digital and Insights teams play a critical role in shaping the products of the future and how we take them to global markets.​

“Successful graduates who join the programme will be front and centre of making critical decisions that will shape our brands, building innovation, advertising and go-to market strategies.”​

Candidates will be assessed by a three-stage process, lasting 12 weeks. From this, PepsiCo will select  the top graduates, offering “the most curious and insightful minds”​ a full-time position at PepsiCo.

Harry McManus, who took part in the PepsiCo Go challenge last year, has since joined the manufacturer’s insights accelerated career programme. Commenting on his new role, McManus said: “My expectations have been blown out of the water. I can’t believe the scale of the projects I’m heading, the continuous training nor the immeasurable support. It’s been incredible.”​

Read more information about the challenge here​.

Meanwhile, for the latest career opportunities in food and drink manufactuirng, visit FoodManJobs​.