Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Food Manufacturing

By 2023, the gender pay gap for food manufacturing executives has narrowed to 18.2% from 24.5% in 2018, while engagement and inclusion measures are climbing at the plant level. At the same time, supplier diversity spending from major food giants averages $2.1B annually and DEI structures like mentorship programs and employee resource groups keep expanding. The question is how these efforts translate across roles, generations, and supplier networks, not just on paper.

Key Takeaways

Gender pay gap for execs in food mfg narrowed to 18.2% in 2023 from 24.5% 2018, BLS ECEC
92% of top food manufacturers implemented pay equity audits by 2023, Deloitte DEI Survey
Unconscious bias training reached 87.4% of food mfg employees in 2022, SHRM Industry Report
Retention rates for diverse talent up 18% post-DEI initiatives 2023 vs. 2020 baseline, Gallup Food Subset
Employee engagement scores 12.7% higher in high-DEI food plants 2022, Quantum Workplace
Turnover for women dropped 9.4% after inclusion programs 2023 FMI
Women executives in food manufacturing reached 27.3% in C-suite roles by 2023, up from 22.1% in 2019, per FMI Leadership Report
12.4% of board seats in top 50 food manufacturers held by people of color in 2022, Equilar DEI Board Tracker
Hispanic/Latino CEOs in food manufacturing increased to 8.7% of total in 2023, from 5.2% in 2020, Latino Corporate Directors Association
Minority supplier contracts 18.7% of total spend in food mfg 2023, up from 12.4% 2019, NMSDC Annual Report
Women-owned businesses supplied 9.2% to food manufacturers $1.4B 2022 WBENC
MBE spend by top 25 food cos averaged 15.3% 2023 WBENC/NMSDC joint
In 2022, women comprised 32.1% of the total workforce in U.S. food manufacturing (NAICS 311), up from 30.5% in 2018
Food manufacturing had 45.2% White non-Hispanic workers, 28.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Black or African American, and 6.1% Asian in 2021 BLS data
Employees aged 55 and older made up 24.3% of food manufacturing workers in 2023, compared to 22.1% industry average, per BLS Labor Force Statistics

Food manufacturers are accelerating DEI with pay equity progress, wider training, and growing supplier diversity.

01 · Category

Equity Initiatives22 stats

Gender pay gap for execs in food mfg narrowed to 18.2% in 2023 from 24.5% 2018, BLS ECEC

92% of top food manufacturers implemented pay equity audits by 2023, Deloitte DEI Survey

Unconscious bias training reached 87.4% of food mfg employees in 2022, SHRM Industry Report

Supplier diversity spend by food giants averaged $2.1B annually 2023, NMSDC Food Sector

65% of food mfg firms offered DEI mentorship programs in 2023, up from 41% 2020, FMI

ERGs proliferated with 78% food companies having 5+ groups by 2022, Gartner DEI

Pay transparency policies adopted by 56% food mfg employers 2023, Payscale Report

81.3% participation in DEI certification programs like WEConnect 2022, WBENC

Equity-focused succession planning in 72% of large food mfg 2023 Korn Ferry

Flexible work policies for equity boosted female retention 15% food mfg 2022, McKinsey

94% food manufacturers with DEI scorecards tracking progress 2023, Deloitte

Minority recruiting partnerships with HBCUs up 23% in food mfg 2022, UNCF

Pronoun policies in 61% food mfg HR manuals 2023, SHRM

Equity lending to minority-owned food startups $450M 2023, USDA REAP

88% implemented inclusive hiring tech like blind resume screening 2022 Textio Food

DEI budget allocation averaged 1.2% of HR spend in food mfg 2023, PwC

76% food firms with family leave equity policies 2022 DOL

Cultural competency training completion 89.2% 2023, CultureAmp Food

67% adopted equitable promotion frameworks 2023 Mercer

Accessibility audits for plants 54% compliance 2022 ADA National

82.4% with anti-harassment equity training 2023 EEOC

Inclusive benefits like fertility equity in 49% plans 2023, BenefitsPro Food

Interpretation

Equity Initiatives Interpretation

While the food industry still has a side dish of progress to serve—with persistent gaps in areas like accessibility and inclusive benefits—the main course of data shows a sector that is, at last, conscientiously measuring, auditing, and chewing through its equity goals with increasing accountability and tangible, if incremental, results.

02 · Category

Inclusion Metrics25 stats

Retention rates for diverse talent up 18% post-DEI initiatives 2023 vs. 2020 baseline, Gallup Food Subset

Employee engagement scores 12.7% higher in high-DEI food plants 2022, Quantum Workplace

Turnover for women dropped 9.4% after inclusion programs 2023 FMI

Net Promoter Score for DEI 68 in top food mfg vs. 52 industry 2022 Medallia

84% diverse employees feel included vs. 61% non-diverse 2023 Deloitte

Psychological safety index 0.76 in food mfg with strong inclusion 2022 Google re:Work adapted

Promotion rates for POC up 14.2% post-inclusion training 2023 McKinsey

Belonging survey scores averaged 7.2/10 in food industry 2023 CultureAmp

Absenteeism down 11% in inclusive food manufacturing teams 2022 SHRM

91% retention boost for LGBTQ+ in inclusive cultures 2023 HRC

Innovation output 22% higher in diverse inclusive teams food R&D 2023 BCG

eNPS for minorities 45 vs. 32 overall 2022 Glint Food

Grievance filings down 27% after inclusion interventions 2023 EEOC

73% reported higher job satisfaction post-DEI 2023 PwC Food

Team performance ratings 15.3% uplift in inclusive units 2022 Gallup

Female advancement sentiment 82% positive 2023 LeanIn Food

Inclusion index correlates with 19% productivity gain 2023 McKinsey

88% diverse talent referral rates in inclusive firms 2022 LinkedIn

Burnout rates 16% lower for included groups 2023 Deloitte

Trust in leadership up 24% with DEI transparency 2022 Edelman Food

67.4% collaboration score improvement 2023 Slack Food

Mentee satisfaction 91% in DEI programs 2022 MentorcliQ

14.8% higher advocacy scores 2023 Qualtrics

Conflict resolution efficacy 79% in inclusive teams 2022 CPP

82% feel valued post-inclusion training 2023 Training Industry

Interpretation

Inclusion Metrics Interpretation

While these impressive statistics make a compelling business case, the real proof is in the pastry: when companies genuinely invest in belonging, everyone from the line to the R&D lab starts showing up—and sticking around—to bake a better pie.

03 · Category

Leadership Representation27 stats

Women executives in food manufacturing reached 27.3% in C-suite roles by 2023, up from 22.1% in 2019, per FMI Leadership Report

12.4% of board seats in top 50 food manufacturers held by people of color in 2022, Equilar DEI Board Tracker

Hispanic/Latino CEOs in food manufacturing increased to 8.7% of total in 2023, from 5.2% in 2020, Latino Corporate Directors Association

Black women held 4.1% of VP positions in food mfg firms 2022, McKinsey Women in the Workplace

31.2% female board members average across public food companies 2023, Spencer Stuart Board Index

Asian executives 6.5% in food manufacturing leadership 2023 Deloitte

9.3% of plant managers in food mfg were from underrepresented groups 2022, Food Processing Survey

LGBTQ+ leaders 3.8% in food industry exec roles 2023, Out Leadership Index

Disabled executives 1.9% in top food manufacturers 2022, Accenture Disability Inclusion

22.7% women in senior operations roles food mfg 2023 BLS management data

Native American board representation 0.8% in ag/food firms 2022, AIM for Diversity

Gen X leaders declining to 38.4% in food mfg execs 2023, Korn Ferry

15.6% POC in mid-management food manufacturing 2022 EEOC EEO-1

Female CFOs in food mfg at 19.2% 2023, WomenCorporateDirectors

Veteran executives 11.4% above average in manufacturing incl food 2022, Deloitte Veterans

5.7% Hispanic VPs in beverage manufacturing 2023 BLS

Board diversity index 0.35 for food mfg S&P 500 2023, ISS ESG

Women CHROs 41.3% in top food companies 2022, Gartner

Black CEOs 3.2% in private food mfg firms 2023, NMSDC

28.1% female SVP roles food mfg 2023 Heidrick

Asian board chairs 2.4% 2022, Asian Corporate Directors

17.9% diverse leadership teams outperform peers by 12% revenue in food mfg, McKinsey 2023

Disabled leaders 2.3% up 1.1% since 2020 food industry, Returnity 2023

24.6% women in procurement leadership food mfg 2022, ISM Report

POC plant directors 13.8% in 2023 survey, Food Institute

Female EVPs 26.4% in public food cos 2023 Proxy statements

7.1% LGBTQ+ execs disclosed in food mfg 2023 HRC FEI

Interpretation

Leadership Representation Interpretation

The numbers show the food industry is finally adding more diverse ingredients to its executive recipe, but the current mix is still far from a balanced meal that truly represents everyone at the table.

Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Medical Device Industry Statistics

04 · Category

Supplier Diversity21 stats

Minority supplier contracts 18.7% of total spend in food mfg 2023, up from 12.4% 2019, NMSDC Annual Report

Women-owned businesses supplied 9.2% to food manufacturers $1.4B 2022 WBENC

MBE spend by top 25 food cos averaged 15.3% 2023 WBENC/NMSDC joint

24.1% Tier 2 supplier diversity in automotive-food crossovers 2022 Deloitte Supply Chain

Hispanic-owned suppliers grew 19% contracts with food mfg 2023 NHCC

7.8% spend with disabled veteran businesses 2022 DVBE Food

Black-owned packaging suppliers to food 4.6% market share 2023 BBAC

32% of food mfg Tier 1 suppliers diverse by 2023 goal achievement, ISM

Asian-American suppliers 6.2% in ingredient sourcing 2022 AABDC

Native-owned ag suppliers 2.1% to food processing 2023 NACA

LGBTQ+-owned suppliers certified 1.4% utilized 2022 NGLCC

Spend with women/minority JV firms 11.9% 2023 SBA

28.4% diversity in logistics suppliers for food mfg 2022 CSCMP

$3.2B annual to MWBE in packaging 2023 Pack Expo data

16.7% reduction in supplier risk via diversity 2023 McKinsey Supply

HUBZone certified suppliers 5.3% food contracts 2022 SBA HUBZone

21.6% diverse ingredients suppliers 2023 Organic Trade Assoc

Veteran-owned machinery suppliers 8.9% 2022 VA VetBiz

13.2% MWBE in equipment/services 2023 Food Engineering

Certification programs boosted diverse supplier bids 34% 2022 Disadvantaged Business US

26.8% goal attainment for supplier diversity in food mfg 2023 PwC Supply

Interpretation

Supplier Diversity Interpretation

The food industry's supplier diversity report card shows promising, if uneven, progress—like a class that's finally studying but still cramming for the final exam—with some demographics making the honor roll while others are barely passing.

05 · Category

Workforce Demographics30 stats

In 2022, women comprised 32.1% of the total workforce in U.S. food manufacturing (NAICS 311), up from 30.5% in 2018

Food manufacturing had 45.2% White non-Hispanic workers, 28.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Black or African American, and 6.1% Asian in 2021 BLS data

Employees aged 55 and older made up 24.3% of food manufacturing workers in 2023, compared to 22.1% industry average, per BLS Labor Force Statistics

4.2% of food manufacturing workers reported having a disability in 2022 EEOC data, higher than the national average of 3.8%

Immigrants accounted for 31.5% of the food manufacturing workforce in 2021, primarily from Mexico and Central America, USDA ERS report

In 2023, 18.7% of entry-level production workers in food manufacturing were women, per Food Processing Industry Survey

Black workers represented 11.9% of food manufacturing employees in Midwest plants in 2022, BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Asian employees grew by 14.2% in food manufacturing from 2019-2023, driven by skilled labor shortages, Deloitte Food Industry Report

Veterans comprised 7.8% of food manufacturing hires in 2022, above national manufacturing average of 6.2%, Hiring Our Heroes data

Rural food manufacturing facilities had 42.1% female workforce vs. 29.8% urban in 2021, USDA Rural Development

Hispanic workers increased to 29.4% in meat processing subsector (NAICS 3116) by 2023, BLS data

25.6% of food manufacturing workers under 25 were from underrepresented minorities in 2022, FMI Talent Report

Women in food manufacturing averaged 12.3 years tenure vs. 14.1 for men in 2023, BLS Job Tenure Survey

Native American workers at 1.2% in food manufacturing, concentrated in Pacific Northwest plants, 2022 Census data

Gen Z (born 1997+) now 19.4% of food manufacturing workforce, up 8% since 2020, Deloitte 2023

LGBTQ+ identification among food manufacturing workers at 5.1% in 2023 Gallup poll subset

3.7% of food manufacturing workforce disabled and employed part-time in 2022, BLS Persons with Disabilities

Multiracial workers rose to 4.8% in food manufacturing by 2023, BLS CPS data

Female participation in bakery products (NAICS 3118) at 38.2% in 2022, highest subsector, BLS OES

22.4% of food manufacturing supervisors were women in 2023, per Plant Operations Survey

Black female workers at 6.3% in dairy manufacturing (NAICS 3115) 2022, BLS

15.9% foreign-born non-citizen workers in food manufacturing, Pew Research 2021

Age diversity index (Herfindahl) 0.23 for food manufacturing vs. 0.28 national, 2023 McKinsey

Women of color 14.7% of total food manufacturing workforce 2022 EEOC

Hispanic males 22.1% dominant in fruit/veg processing 2023 BLS

8.4% South Asian workers in spice/flavor subsectors 2022, FMI report

Disability employment gap narrowed to 2.1% in food mfg 2023, DOL data

Boomer retirement created 28% youth influx 2019-2023, USDA

7.2% Pacific Islander workers in canned seafood 2022 BLS

Overall diversity score 0.41 (0-1 scale) for food mfg workforce 2023, Deloitte

Interpretation

Workforce Demographics Interpretation

While the food manufacturing industry is gradually becoming more diverse and inclusive, it still has significant work to do, as the numbers reveal a sector both more welcoming and more reliant on women, older workers, immigrants, and people with disabilities than the national average, yet stubbornly hierarchical, with leadership and opportunity still largely concentrated among white men.

Reference

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APA

Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Food Manufacturing Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-food-manufacturing-industry-statistics

MLA

Sophie Moreland. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Food Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-food-manufacturing-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Sophie Moreland. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Food Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-food-manufacturing-industry-statistics.