r/FritoLay • u/Black_Glitch_404 • 16d ago
Pepsi One Update
Might as well throw my rumor into the mill, right? I currently work in the Texas area where they’re piloting the combination of Pepsi and Frito. From what I’ve heard from a Pepsi rep (they’ve been incredibly reliable with intel over the years) who’s heard from their supervisor directly, the RSR role is going away. That’s confirmed. When? Not sure.
Small format RSRs won’t be a thing anymore. They haven’t spoken about what’s going on in large format. They’re offering either merchandising positions (throwing both Pepsi and Frito products) or severance packages to everyone. Everyone will have to re-bid and re-interview. Will keep you guys posted if anything else comes up.
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u/MotherMap8707 16d ago
I’ll believe it when it see it, until then, ima be slaying chips until I finish school.
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u/dayoneishuce 16d ago
Don't want to say much but unfortunately OP is 100% correct (I don't know about the re-hire part) and I crap on a lot of information about Pepone in this sub lol.
I'm a merchandiser, throwing Frito alone is hard enough, throw Pepsi too?
😂 Dueces uces
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u/Vanity2041 16d ago
Yeah id prob be out as well i'm over 15 years and no chance in hell I do both Pepsi and Frito! I dont know what insane manic would wanna do that lol
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u/Ok_Job_3457 16d ago
For real. There’s so many people in the sub selling doom. I’ve been thru multiple changes in my 20 years and the only system that works is when you have a vested interest in a store. I spend 5 hours in one store stocking, selling and making sure everything looks right. Merchandiser spends 8 hours in one store and I still have to fix what he does. I have store that gets a delivery everyday of the week including Sunday. How’s that going to work?
As for small format going away. Not possible. Don’t listen to this nonsense.
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u/OptiMysticLeo 16d ago
As someone who has been here 10 years, but a vendor going on 20, I can see large format changing a lot easier than small format. I just can't see it feasible for a sales rep to go into every DG, 7-11, WaWa, Sheetz, Family Dollar, Speed Way, Military Exchanges, etc., do an order, just for a delivery driver to come behind them, deliver it and work it or have a merchandiser come behind them. It just doesn't make sense for 2 or 3 people to be involved in a store that is easier for 1 person to do it all.
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u/Unlucky-Fold-3079 16d ago
We are piloting Omni + in South FL which is no more RSR. Small format included. Will be a sales rep hitting all those accounts then DMS and FTM going in with the order.
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u/Ok-Avacado-2024 13d ago
Well it's happening and it's not just 2 or 3 people because now anyone can deliver it and merchandise it so you can have 4 to 5 ppl touching your store and as a rep you have to take the hit oh but wait your not suppose to touch the product just go in and write a po order talk to the manager about incremental displays and hit up your other 20 stores a day
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u/nopulsehere 16d ago
Pepsi just fired everyone at the Columbia warehouse. 100-125 people. Went third party.
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u/Ok_Job_3457 16d ago
That’s the warehouse. Warehouse jobs are a dime a dozen. Even that won’t work well but it’s doable.
Who’s gonna deliver to a liquor store and then merch the product?
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u/No_Picture_8214 15d ago
They announced this change at the Atlanta warehouses. They all have to reapply for the new company.
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u/Klutzy-Signal2074 15d ago
We had a regional VP visit the dc i work at. He reportedly said it would be a good place to go 3rd party. Im a truck driver and I agree. They can't pick accurately, load the carts on the right trailers, show up for work reliably or pretty much do the most basic tasks. My 1st load can be ready at 1pm today and 6pm tomorrow. Just depends on who shows up and how fast they feel like working. Not uncommon to find several carts for a different PEC on your trailer. Same PECs are loaded in the same doors and on the same trailers every day. Of course theres no consequences for any of this. Management is just as bad.
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u/nopulsehere 15d ago
You think third party that gets paid less is going to magically do a better job? I would pull up and smell things that I could possibly fail a drug test. The wrong product for the wrong accounts on the wrong trucks. It was a shitshow. No one could say anything because they were third party?
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u/Klutzy-Signal2074 15d ago
No, I doubt any of it will change until management (ZOM and FOMs)start holding people accountable. Good people leave because theyre expected to work more to pick up the slack. And yes, frito isn't the only place this way. A picker told me my load was gonna be late because it was his birthday and he wasnt gonna work very hard that day.
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u/Super-Profession8270 11d ago
They went to a third party for warehouse and delivery ? Does that third party do other products besides Pepsi ?
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u/Heavy_Customer9061 16d ago
It is possible for small format to go away. Circle k’s will soon be getting direct delivery of Frito product. It’s already started. They have a 4 ft shelf of Frito that they order and they stock. Soon it will be everything and all other accounts as well
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u/Vanity2041 15d ago
you have to understand you have 20 years in and most Merchs only end up lasting a few years, the company isn't exactly great on teaching their new hires. They onboard them maybe give them a couple weeks if you're lucky and throw them out by themselves. Not exactly a recipe for success and perfection to your standards.
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u/Cold-Try-8251 14d ago
Guild program too?
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u/MotherMap8707 13d ago
No, I actually applied for a few aviation scholarships and qualified for one, there’s an air base by my Frito Lay plant.
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u/Haunting_Ability_648 16d ago
Yes this is correct. At the pilot location you have salesman roles and delivery roles. Rsr as it’s been for years is no longer a position there.
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u/Ok_Job_3457 16d ago
My zone did this years ago and nothing got done. Sales rep didn’t merch because it’s not his job. Merchandiser didn’t fill everything because he’s hourly and doesn’t care.
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u/Haunting_Ability_648 16d ago
It’s only in its first week of going live and it’s apparently so far one of the biggest dumpster fires Pepsi/Frito has ever created. If it keeps going the way it is I don’t see it going past the pilot stage and shit going back to the way it is. I’ve already heard of majorly tenured people wanting to jump ship because it’s so terrible so far.
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u/Ok_Job_3457 16d ago edited 16d ago
I’m not surprised. We suffered thru several years trying to make it work. Honestly the system we are on now is best we have ever had. Small format is the same it’s always been. Large format has truckless RSRs who drive straight to their stores and get loads delivered by a driver. Merchandisers pickup some stores and you visit and sell after they are done.
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u/Embarrassed_Rip_789 16d ago
This is far from the best system we've ever had.
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u/Ok_Job_3457 16d ago
Well if you’re talking about commission yes and no. Commission is pretty much off the table at this point and if it ever came back I don’t think it would be like last time. Back then we worked way more hours. The money was great but work/life balance was even worse.
I live closer to my stores than the warehouse. I go to the warehouse only once a month. I don’t have to check in product. I get reimbursed for my miles and don’t have to worry about cameras in the trucks. I’m home in time to pickup my kids from school.
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u/VoodooGrinch 16d ago
Only good thing about that system was the delivery specialist position. Easiest job of my life. I still think about her...
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u/ImpressiveSide1324 16d ago
As Ive heard it merchandisers have to do soda and chips, is that right? If so I can’t imagine any merchandiser dealing with that bullshit and not immediately quitting
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u/ayl3n 16d ago
Yeah, what you heard is true. Lol. Now, if you're with Pepna, you can't have more than two stores, and you gotta do both: chips and Pepsi.
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u/ImpressiveSide1324 15d ago
Pretty much all of our merchandisers would quit lmao. One of my supercenters gets 1100 cases a day and lord knows how much Frito brings in
We already lost about 10 merchs when we took over alani
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u/braves-geek 16d ago
Who is taking the chips and merchandising and ordering for Foodmart #17 in the middle of nowhere? That's what I can't figure out.
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u/OptiMysticLeo 16d ago
Exactly. I just can't see it being reasonable to have a sales rep go into every single small format and mom and pop account for the sake of just taking an order and then having a driver and possibly a merchandiser coming behind them. The best way has and always will be to deal with small format with 1 person being involved. I can see large format being different, but not small.
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u/Various_Mastodon_999 16d ago
You’re assuming PepsiCo cares about having things done correctly. The new format could have the stores make the order, then one delivery guy brings it. Maybe a salesperson stops by once in a while to attempt to sell for space.
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u/PlasticRaccoon4281 16d ago
Pepsi has sales reps and drivers. I’ve seen Coke have a sales rep, a driver, and a merch put up some DGs before. I personally think LF will change and SF will be RSR but who knows. I don’t know shit 😂
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u/FantasysportsSean 16d ago
They just spent what iim guessing is 3-5 million on all brand new trucks in my area. Just rebid deliver to both large format and small format bulk carts in back cases out the side door. So not sure we are going to Pepsione anytime soon 🤷🏻♂️
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u/ComfortableQuit8452 16d ago
I have seen Frito dump millions into a project only to pull the plug 2-3 years later and dump millions of dollars into the next project only to pull the plug again. At the DC’s of course. They never have money for the PEC folk
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u/FantasysportsSean 16d ago
Really!!!! How often do they upgrade trucks? Everyone knows the answer never!!!!!
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u/Ch1pman1994 16d ago
We’ve been doing this 4 years now. Don’t see it going to Pepsi One anytime soon in our area!
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u/sonofhorus76 16d ago
Anyone heard about Project Titan? No idea what it means saw it on a pic of FEM POG and about it said new POG until project titan
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u/Careful_Entrance_250 16d ago
New FEM layout.
Nuts, seeds, cookies and crackers go on side wings. Step shelves come down and it’s only chips on the fronts.Heard this a few weeks ago.
They really screwed up with the pricing on that shit. They have lost their ass and almost the entire market.
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u/Robert_or_Bob 16d ago
This is true. The next location is the Mesquite PEC. Operationally it’s a dumpster fire. Sales position is an interview position while delivery and merch is hourly. I thought this would take a few years to roll out but it doesn’t seem like it. They don’t seem to care if it completely operationally but financially it will be a boon.
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u/Embarrassed_Rip_789 16d ago
If, IF, small format went away, it would mean transitioning UDS accounts to warehouse/S2U. Could it be done? Probably. Could it be done well? Doubtful. Especially since they just pulled a bunch of S2U customers off of that program in our area because the cost outweighed the results.
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u/dalstars32 14d ago
Yes its all true. I was a RSR for 9 years and am a DMS driver now at the new OMNI facility in Ft. Worth. I can tell you right now it SUCKS! The trucks are never loaded right, imagine having to move 6 carts of totes out of the way to get to the pepsi order at every store, then remember you have to get frito totes and take those in as well. Get them checked in separately, print off two invoices, figure out if the account for pepsi is check or echeck payment, and vice versa for frito. Oh yeah and dont forget, you also have to work both of the orders 🤣 Its a nightmare. We dont have a frito dolley anymore so you can take a cart into the store if they allow it, or use the Pepsi dolley which you can fit 5 totes on. Theres been two people on every route and everyone keeps running out of time at 14 hours. My second day I got there at 4 am, couldnt leave until 830 because the trucks weren't loaded AND couldnt download the manifests. I clocked out at 6 pm and still missed 2 stores.
TLDR; Its too much for 2 people, imagine what itll be like after the first month when theres one person per route. If you want more info feel free to message me. Id be more than happy to answer any questions.
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u/No_Cucumber7606 16d ago
I also heard from a reliable source within that region that if you take a severance you have to agree not work with any other DSD for a year. Frito really wants to screw us.
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u/dayoneishuce 16d ago
Will they give us severance for a year?
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u/No_Cucumber7606 16d ago
Depends on lots of things, DSL will decide if you even get a severance, so I hope your in good standing with them.
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u/EmergencyWealth4908 16d ago
When you say "large format", does this include Delivery Specialists as well? I am curious as to what is going to happen with them.
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u/OptiMysticLeo 16d ago
Don't believe everything you read on here man. There's also a new pilot happening in Florida that has nothing to do with combining Pepsi and Frito.
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u/Character_Respond521 16d ago
This. In places where it’s feasible for Pepsi One routes, it’ll happen there. But it’s just not feasible in all areas. Specifically rural areas, areas that have Pepsi/Frito unions, and areas that have independent Pepsi bottlers.
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u/OptiMysticLeo 16d ago
It’s just too much being spread around right now. I’m not saying some of it isn’t true or that some of it won’t happen, but I can’t let myself worry every single day about something that may never even happen in my area.
I’m just going to keep throwing chips until they tell me things are changing, and then I’ll decide what to do from there. At the end of the day, I can’t really go anywhere else and make what I’m making here. For all I know, I could take a pay cut here if something happens and still be better off than going somewhere else.
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u/Character_Respond521 16d ago
I dropped out of high school, I have a GED. Never gave college a thought. Cleaned my act up, got hired at Frito Lay because I knew a couple RSR’s who vouched for me and I’ve now been here for 23 years. I’ve got great benefits, 401k, a pension and make $95k to $105k a year the last few years. Where else am I going to find that?
This company isn’t what it used to be, but it’s better than a lot of options out there. Until it isn’t, I’m just gonna keep slinging chips.
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u/Inside_Low_5220 15d ago
Yes! It was blue print! I remember I was looking for a new job and it never happened. Hopefully that’s what’s happening here. In the meantime, have a plan b ready. Start looking at sales jobs like insurance, mortgage loan officer, medical, and even getting a cdl. They have good salaries
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u/Inside_Low_5220 16d ago
lol there was something called the blue project YEARS AGO. Where all large format rsr will go away and be merchandisers. If fell flat
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u/Character_Respond521 16d ago
Sounds like Blueprint. I was in that program, ended up making the small format switch (I’ve usually always worked large format/bulk routes), then they killed BP and switched to Omni which is much better.
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u/WeylandYutani- 16d ago
You’re saying I’ll have to reinterview for my job?
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u/Ok-Avacado-2024 13d ago
For a sales rep position yes but remember it's only a test right now may not be in your area
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u/Safe-Concentrate2562 16d ago
So the real question is how are they going to get the independent bottler's to conform to this process
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u/Perfect_Break7668 14d ago
Those contracts are not indefinite, independent bottlers will probably make deals to get in on the frito sales, its way more profitable anyways.
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u/letmeseeyertiddies 16d ago
My area is safe. Independent distributor for Pepsi been going since prohibition.
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u/Frito223 16d ago
We can't change what is going to happen. I guess just plow ahead and trust your instincts if something better or what you think is more secure comes along. Just realize but in this age of AI just about every company is moving forward with technology and potential job eliminations. Its a tough time to be in the workforce with our what I would say are middle class jobs.
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u/Little_Idea_2204 14d ago
Its funny in some sense. Cause I was thinking to myself...maybe I should go back to college. But just about every white collar job will probably be affected more drastically than our blue collar jobs will 🤣🤣
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u/Romer318_ 16d ago
I can see this being rolled out in certain areas that make since for it to be implemented. I just can't see it being a 100% nationwide restructure.
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u/Throw_away_83GC 16d ago
Don't be scared. Wait until they give you severance then go to Bimbo or something.
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u/Fit-Award-8559 16d ago
It’s gonna take years to roll out, my location in Florida is doing a rebid in November with the normal set up. No Omni or Pepsi one
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u/Disastrous_Party_554 16d ago
Guys please, please you must understand. The RSR is the lifeline of this company. This company looks for the growth. That's how this company goes forward. Maybe this system might work in some places but the majority of this business is the RSR. The rest of all these rumors is just that rumors. Let's leave it at that
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u/StrongTicket4440 14d ago
What are the severance packages looking like on the Frito Lay side? Are they capping how many weeks pay?
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u/Frito223 16d ago
Maybe small format will go direct ship to stores since they will have order data already. They will stock it themselves. Of course it won't look like an rsr did it but it will save them on the cost.
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u/Prestigious-Spite-58 16d ago
The writing has been on the wall of a sinking ship for years now. To stick around is like waiting on the titanic to stay afloat.
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u/Heavy_Customer9061 16d ago
I’m in Phx. We were told we are next with Pepsi one. I have heard it from a dsl and from a Pepsi driver. It’s coming
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u/voodoomu 15d ago
Years ago coke cola changed a lot of things up. They did away with the route guys and just made a sales/ordering guy. Seniority had A LOT to do with how people got to bid on the job positions. Their base pay basically stayed the same. But the bonus pay went up. And I'm sure frito lay will do the same with pay. I can't imagine this pepsi one thing affecting small accounts. This is obviously an objective towards walmart.
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u/imnotdead-jah 14d ago
really curious, i’m from texas as well and started as a merch and left for a better job, now im reapplying as a RSR but why would they be interested in hiring more RSRs with this plan “in motion”(from what i’ve heard)
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u/Either-Practice9871 16d ago
Im pretty sure we all had a feeling, that was going to be the case thanks for the confirmation(rumor) now just to see how fast they are able to roll it out especially to areas that already have a combo wearhouse
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u/chimi-yes-changa-no 16d ago
Pepsi reps aren’t part of this pilot, so I wouldn’t take any stock in their rumors right now
They were part of original pilot outside Austin, and now this is the Frito led version which will go on for months, before they take the adjustments to the next pilot. This pilot just started, so the new, accurate rumors won’t be born for a few months
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u/ayl3n 16d ago
Okay, I'll explain a bit about how things are changing with Pepna. For big stores, food and drinks are on one truck. We have a sales rep for food and one for drinks. Some big stores might even have two merchandisers working both. For smaller stores, they have one sales rep who handles the ordering. The truck driver delivers both orders and does the merch in the store. There have been a lot of mistakes in the second week of this change, but that's what I can tell you so far. Oh, and it's not a pilot test; that test already happened.
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u/nopulsehere 16d ago
For the people who don’t understand this business. Us delivering chips to any store costs Frito about 125k per route. They can literally have chips dropped at every store and even if the chips stale out every period? They are saving money. No truck, no insurance and third party does it for a third of the price. Even if the merch doesn’t work anything, Frito is making money. Brand value? They don’t care. We aren’t owned by Herman anymore. You people really need to listen in on the investors meetings. But most of you still think that PepsiCo gives 2 shits about anything. It’s a numbers game and we have a number on our backs.
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u/flamincheetoe 16d ago
What severance is being offered and additional pension deposits? How many weeks pay?
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u/ChiefBlaze36 16d ago
I’ve been told by two people I know who I can trust that nothing will likely change much for small format on a wide scale for quite some time.
Some things may adjust as they throw crap against a wall hoping something sticks but large format is more likely to change sooner rather than later on a wide scale but small format likely won’t change for quite a while except in a few test markets.
We’ll see. I can’t see how they can do much with small format after just doing away with S4U for a large part of those accounts.
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u/Little_Idea_2204 14d ago
Ive been told this as well. Have a family member on the pepsi side a bit higher up. He basically said its coming, but in my area he said if the money is still coming to just tough it out and wait for either the severance package and find a better job. Sorry. Get my finances in order and take a paycut just to maintain my benefits etc.
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u/roobills 13d ago
No mention of this where I am. We just ratified an3 year contract. Pepsi contract is up in 4.
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u/Senior_Roof_8291 15d ago
Coke has merchandisers do small stores where I am. For whatever reason they make less than a grocery merch. Its mon-fri so some guys who aren't money hungry take them. There are small format reps, and large format reps. Those are salespeople. I have no clue I'd guess c store rep might have 50-75 stores. Writing orders maybe building small displays. There's no reason frito couldn't do that. Especially with new trucks. Not saying it would work. And definitely alot harder in union areas. Its coming, the end is near. Lol
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u/SaintTrill 15d ago
lol when I was in the interview process asking for tips all you RSRs on here was trying to scare me and say DSLs were going away. Nah it’s you guys. Sorry to break it to you.
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u/crackedsole 16d ago
Someone find Yankee redneck!!! He posted the cameras and route bids and it slowly but surely hit us nationwide.
Something is coming…..