ARLINGTON, VA. — SNAC International has launched the Women in Snacks Network, an initiative that seeks to foster leadership development for snack industry executives that are women.

To ensure the new group’s success, SNAC has created a steering committee of member volunteers that is made up of both men and women. The steering committee members come from an array of snacking companies and allied suppliers, including Land O’Lakes, Evans Food Group, Amplify Snack Brands, Utz Quality Foods, Rudolph Foods Co.; tna North America, Frito-Lay North America, Truco Enterprises and more.

“This program seeks to foster growth and professional development for women in the snack industry by empowering them to advance, so we see greater diversity at the executive level,” said Elizabeth Avery, president and chief executive officer. “The good news is that our rising leaders are well-diversified. Fifty per cent of the attendees from our recently held Emerging Leaders Program 2.0 were women. We need to help them continue their career trajectory so that one day our ELF attendees are equally well-balanced.”

With the leadership of the WinS Steering Committee, SNAC plans to organize regular opportunities for the Women in Snacks Network to gather, learn and build important connections, including at its annual trade show SNAXPO19, being held March 31- April 2, in Orlando, Fla.