Minneapolis, MN – June 25th 2025 — Females in Food, the leading network for women across the food and beverage value chain, has released its first-ever State of Women in Food & Beverage executive summary white paper—providing long-awaited data on the lived experiences of women in technical, commercial, and leadership roles across the industry.
While the industry has made strides in representation and values-driven leadership, the findings reveal persistent and measurable challenges that continue to impact women’s advancement, engagement, and well-being.
“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.”
The 2025 survey, conducted in partnership with Garza Consulting, highlights four urgent themes:
- Leadership development is missing the mark. Women overwhelmingly report a need for stronger, more targeted leadership programs—yet many say the initiatives that do exist are misaligned with their real-world challenges.
- Work-life balance remains a barrier, even when flexible policies exist on paper. A lack of caregiving infrastructure and cultural permission continues to impact retention and advancement.
- Company culture shows promise—but has cracks. While most women feel aligned with company values, too many still don’t feel valued. Equal pay audits and behavioral accountability are needed to bridge the gap.
- Gender bias is alive and well. Nearly half of respondents report frequent bias, and 39% report experiencing verbal or physical abuse. These are not isolated incidents—they’re systemic issues that demand immediate attention.
The executive summary offers data-backed insights as well as a call to action for companies, leaders, and industry stakeholders to rethink leadership pipelines, reimagine support structures, and confront bias with urgency and transparency.
“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.”
Want the Full Insights?
The executive summary is now available for download.
→ Click here to receive your copy
About Females in Food
Females in Food is a professional platform and membership community designed to advance women in the food and beverage industry. Through events, leadership development, mentorship, and advocacy, FIF connects women across every stage of their career and every corner of the value chain. Learn more at www.femalesinfood.community.
