We pride ourselves on being good listeners of both positive and critical voices and consider engagement a key tool to keep abreast of food and restaurant industry trends and concerns. This helps us monitor risks, especially in the areas of food safety, global nutrition, supply chain management and challenges to our franchise business model. As an example, we are currently focused on projects in the areas of animal welfare, antibiotic use, deforestation (including palm oil), plastics use and supply chain risks.
As a first step in revising our Global Citizenship & Sustainability Strategy, we went through a rigorous process in 2017 that resulted in identifying and prioritizing the following as key stakeholders: employees, customers, franchisees, shareholders and communities. We considered this process to be foundational to assessing those issues most material to our business and then shaping our strategy and subsequent initiatives, including our reporting processes.
After identifying representative individuals and organizations within each of these stakeholder groups, we worked with a third-party consultant to develop an engagement process that included surveys and interviews with both internal and external stakeholders. In total, we gathered 75 survey responses from Yum! and brand leaders and conducted 31 interviews. These interviews gave us detailed insights into the opportunities each group sees for Yum! Brands, as well as risks we may face in key areas.
Our ongoing engagement focuses on working with stakeholders on priorities, identified through our materiality assessment, that address our three pillars of food, planet and people. There are many voices and points of view relative to these issues and our goal is to always be as inclusive as possible. This engagement varies from one-time discussions to regular interaction while working on joint projects. The table on page 11 provides examples of ongoing interactions with each of these groups and issues that are most relevant to them.
In addition to ongoing dialogue with key stakeholders, we participate in a wide range of trade associations. These relationships enable us to work across our industry to address common challenges, opportunities and public policy issues. Significant memberships include:
| STAKEHOLDER | TYPES OF ENGAGEMENT | MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES |
| Advocacy Groups/NGOs |
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| Communities |
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| Consumers |
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| Employees |
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| Franchisees |
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| Government Agencies |
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| Industry Associations |
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| Investors |
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| Suppliers |
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| Thought Leaders |
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