- Alex Palmer

Bucking the rewards-cutting trend at some organizations, PepsiCo has announced the expansion of its global recognition program. The beverage and snack giant announced, last week, that it has created the “Chairman’s Circle of Champions” to reward the company’s top operations associates around the world.

The new award program focuses on backend employees for their strong performance in areas such as safety, job performance, service and even people skills.

Recipients will be recognized for their accomplishments at a three- to four-day event in New York where they can also receive training to enhance their work performance upon their return. Top leaders from the company will give presentations and breakout sessions will be held. Winners will also go on tours of the city and the trip will culminate with an awards ceremony.

The program is based on the PepsiCo’s existing sales incentive program, “Ring of Honor.” Of PepsiCo’s 198,000 employees, only 350 receive the Ring of Honor award, which includes a trip to New York City, a destination nearby PepsiCo’s Purchase, N.Y. headquarters.

“Bringing [recognition] to the operations side was a natural extension. Operations does a lot of these on a local level, so we thought ‘how can we elevate it?’” said Charles Nicolas, PepsiCo’s vice president of public affairs. “A parallel event made absolute sense.”

Both the Ring of Honor and the new Chairman’s Circle programs bring together a geographically diverse workforce. PepsiCo, which owns brands including Lay, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade, does business in over 200 countries. Many regions hold their own separate ceremonies, but the broader programs of the Ring of Honor and now the Chairman’s Circle allows PepsiCo to give its top performers a better sense of the company’s global reach.

PepsiCo is just beginning the nomination process for the Chairman’s Circle and the event will take place this month. Though details of the event have yet to be finalized, it will incorporate many of the aspects that the Ring of Honor has found success with. PepsiCo has yet to finalize the number of winners, but it will be between 300-400 people. Nicolas said winners may be treated to a Broadway show and sporting event. “The same leadership teams that are involved in the Ring of Honor will be involved in the Circle of Champions, so the expectation on their part is that it will have the same results too.”