Constellation Brands is changing its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes, including renaming teams and ceasing funding schemes.
In a statement released yesterday (8 April), president and CEO Bill Newlands said the group was taking actions “to evolve our approach in alignment with our company’s mission and values”.
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He added: “As we’re all fully aware, we are operating in an increasingly polarized and highly charged environment and a shifting legal landscape related to social and political issues. This requires us to be thoughtful in our approach and to operate with enhanced focus going forward.”
Some of the changes to Constellation’s DEI initiatives include renaming its Diversity and Inclusion team to the Inclusive Culture Team “to better reflect our intent”, Newlands said.
The team will assist Constellation brands in “building an inclusive culture that fully executes our business strategy, meets the needs o an evolving consumer base, positively contributes to our communities, and creates sustainable competitive advantage”, the Constellation chief added
As part of the changes, the Corona brewer in the US will also cease its Focus on Female Founders and Focus on Minority Founders venture funding programmes.
Newlands said Constellation still intended to “focus on finding early-stage ideas inclusive of these start-ups that are distinct, aligned with our business strategy and consumer trends, and that have the potential to create long-term value for our company”.
Constellation’s Supplier Diversity programme has also been renamed to the Supplier Inclusion programme, again, to “more accurately reflect” its “intent” of working with local small enterprises where it operates, he added.
In August, Brown-Forman stepped away from its diversity and inclusion policies and ended participation in an LGBTQ corporate equality index.
An email sent out by Brown-Forman’s executive leadership team was shared on X by US conservative activist Robby Starbuck, in which the group said it was making changes to its policies to “account for the ever-changing landscape”.
The next month, brewing major Molson Coors also said it would be changing aspects of its DEI programmes to support a “broader view in which all employees know they are welcome”.
A staff memo sent by the company said its “previous DEI-based training programmes” were complete, with all US staff having participated. The Blue Moon brewer added it was developing “the next evolution of our company trainings, focused on growth for our business and a strong workplace where everyone can thrive”.
Molson Coors also said it had dropped a goal on supplier diversity, adding it would no longer take part in the Human Rights Campaign’s corporate rankings and would stop connecting executive compensation to staff representation.
According to reports from Reuters in February, soft drinks giant PepsiCo also made changes to its DEI initatives.
In a memo sent to employees, the 7Up producer allegedly said it would be ceasing DEI workforce representation goals and moving its DEI officer to a new role focused on associate engagement and leadership development.
