A study by Checkout's sister publication, ESM: European Supermarket Magazine, has found that female executives account for fewer than one in six executive positions at international retail and FMCG businesses.
The study, which was released to coincide with International Women's Day, which takes place today, found that 85.1% of the individuals on the executive committees at 150 retail and FMCG businesses were male, while just 14.9% were female.
Just 34 of the companies featured in the report featured an executive committee in which a quarter or more are women (22.67% of companies).
In addition, some 55 companies featured in the study had an executive committee that featured no women (36.67%).
"Within the European grocery business, women are hugely important, as the most important consumers targeted by retailers and brands," said Kevin Kelly, chairman of ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine. "However, at the top level - at retailers, FMCG businesses and third party suppliers - women are significantly underrepresented, as this study demonstrates.
"On this, International Women's Day, leading retailers and suppliers should take a step back, and examine ways to improve their gender balance - not as a token gesture, but as a means to bolster the future performance and profitability of their businesses."
For further information about this study, contact [email protected].
© 2016 - Checkout Magazine by Stephen Wynne-Jones
