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Heather Hoytink has been with PepsiCo for more than 18 years, currently serving as president, south division at PepsiCo Beverages North America.
How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I have the privilege and honor of leading PepsiCo Beverages North America’s South Division, guiding a team of over 15,000 associates who make, move, and sell our iconic brands. We’re the force behind getting your favorite drinks, like Pepsi, Gatorade, and Bubly, into stores and restaurants and ultimately into the hands of consumers, like you, in communities across the Southeast US, from Maryland to Florida to Louisiana.
One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? While I may work for a large global company, as I’ve risen through the ranks at PepsiCo, I’ve tried to never lose sight of the importance of getting out in the trade and building relationships with our frontline employees and retail partners. It’s what makes my role as a division president so exciting. My job requires a community-focused approach specific to our south division and meeting with our associates and partners to understand the challenges they’re facing at not only a regional level, but a city and store level is an important first step in providing meaningful solutions.
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? One of my proudest achievements was developing and championing a platform that we call “Own the Streets.” This is an initiative focused on making sure we have the right people, right products, and right processes to serve small business customers—specifically local convenience stores and bodegas. These businesses are cornerstones of our communities, and we want to ensure our sales and service strategies reflect these customers’ unique needs.
Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about right now, and why? At PepsiCo, we’re excited about the return to away-from-home consumption as customers continue to be more mobile and demand experiences when shopping for their favorite products. We are always looking for new exciting ways to bring our products to consumers whether it’s through “Better with Pepsi” food pairings at the point of sale, in-stadium grab-and-go shopping experiences to get sports fans back to the action quicker than ever or promoting more sustainable solutions like reusable cups. Purchasing your beverage shouldn’t just be something you do while you’re out at an event, it should be part of what makes the event so great.
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What’s your go-to coffee order? A fun fact about me is that I’m actually not a big coffee drinker, but I am a fan of tea, especially Pure Leaf Unsweetened Iced Tea whenever I need a little pick-me-up.
Worst piece of advice you’ve received? “Play it safe.” The best growth comes from taking risks and embracing change. Taking on challenges will test you and help you grow in ways you couldn’t design for yourself.
What was your favorite retail product when you were 15, and what’s your favorite retail product now? I’ve always had a great love of music. This is a bond I share with my daughter today, but when I was 15, I have fond memories of sharing this passion with my friends by going to buy cassettes to make mixtapes for them. I can still feel my heart racing waiting for the top 40 to play on the radio and pressing the button just in time to record it. Today, I have to admit my go-to product is Diet Pepsi. I can’t live without it and I always pick one up when I’m out running errands, spending time with my family, or traveling for work.