Three Restaurant Leaders Give 140,000 High School Students Advice on How to Succeed in Restaurants and Foodservice

PepsiCo Foodservice’s Project Taste Test shares key insights from industry executives, interviewed by a ProStart alumna


Washington, DC, Dec. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), in partnership with PepsiCo Foodservice, is proud to release its seventh Project Taste Test “Servin’ Up Successful Careers” video – an educational series dedicated to passing on advice from the best in the business and showcasing the limitless opportunities in restaurants, foodservice and hospitality. 

This year’s Project Taste Test video features an exclusive interview with Stephen Joyce, CEO of Dine Brands Global; Darren Rebelez, President of IHOP; and John Cywinski, President of Applebee’s. They are interviewed by Sidney Reed, a ProStart alumna from California who is now a sophomore at the Collins College at Cal Poly Pomona and interested in pursuing a career in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

PepsiCo Foodservice’s Project Taste Test video is produced exclusively for ProStart, one of the nation’s most successful high school culinary arts and restaurant management programs represented by 1,800 schools and nearly 140,000 students. Each company executive shares their story and pathway to success with Sidney, and gets quizzed with a lightning round of questions at the end. Video highlights include:

  • The overwhelming success of IHOP’s IHOb campaign and how it helped the brand
  • Applebee’s craveable menu innovations and inviting promotions
  • How the Dine Brands CEO leads the organization to success

“The Project Taste Test video is another key example of our partnership with PepsiCo Foodservice in support of the industry’s top talent,” said Rob Gifford, executive vice president of the NRAEF. “Our goal is to show ProStart students the many pathways to success in our industry and help guide them towards success of their own.”

As a surprise, at the end of the video, Dine Brands Global surprised Sidney with a $5,000 scholarship to continue her collegiate studies in restaurant and hospitality—and PepsiCo Foodservice matched their donation.

Click here to watch PepsiCo Foodservice’s Project Taste Test video. For more information on the ProStart program, visit ChooseRestaurants.org/ProStart or find us on Twitter or Facebook.

About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the industry’s training and education, career development and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower and Advance today’s and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include:  ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education program; Restaurant Ready – partnering with community based organizations to provide “opportunity youth” with skills training and job opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and, the Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship Project – a partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association providing a  hospitality apprenticeship program for the industry. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.

 

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $63 billion in net revenue in 2017, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our fundamental belief that the success of our company is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world around us. We believe that continuously improving the products we sell, operating responsibly to protect our planet and empowering people around the world enable PepsiCo to run a successful global company that creates long-term value for society and our shareholders. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com. 


            

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