Females in Food has published its first State of Women in Food & Beverage executive summary, revealing ongoing workplace challenges that affect women's career progression in the food and beverage sector.
The 2025 survey, conducted with Garza Consulting, collected data on women's experiences in technical, commercial and leadership positions across the industry. The research identified four key areas where companies continue to face challenges in supporting female employees.
"Our mission has always been to advance and connect women in the food and beverage industry," said Angela Dodd, founder of Females in Food. "But we knew that to drive real change, we needed data — something to move us beyond assumptions and into actionable insight."
Leadership development fails to address challenges
The study found that leadership development programs often fail to address real workplace challenges faced by women professionals. Survey respondents indicated that existing initiatives frequently miss the mark in providing relevant support and development opportunities.
Work-life balance emerged as another significant barrier, with findings showing that flexible policies on paper do not always translate to practical support. The research indicates that inadequate caregiving infrastructure and workplace culture continue to impact both retention and career advancement.
Company culture presented mixed results in the survey. While most respondents reported alignment with their company's stated values, many indicated they do not feel personally valued within their organizations. The research suggests that equal pay audits and behavioral accountability measures could help address this disconnect.
The survey also documented ongoing gender bias, with nearly half of respondents reporting frequent bias experiences and 39% reporting verbal or physical abuse incidents. The research characterizes these as systematic rather than isolated issues.
Recommendations moving forward
The executive summary includes recommendations for companies and industry leaders to address leadership development, support structures and bias in the workplace.
"This report is more than a snapshot — it's a roadmap," said Dodd. "If we want to retain and elevate top female talent, we need to move beyond surface-level solutions and invest in strategies that actually work."
The executive summary is available for download from Females in Food. The organization operates as a professional platform and membership community for women in the food and beverage industry, providing events, leadership development, mentorship, and advocacy services.
Support in the pet food industry
If you're looking for support in the pet food industry, Women in Petfood Leadership brings together professional women in pet food to build community through networking, career planning, leadership development and professional support opportunities.
The program is open to all women, and men, who support the principles of cooperation, education, mentoring and encouragement for women to grow professionally throughout the pet food industry.
To join this community or see future events and programs, click here.
