PepsiCo's spend with minority suppliers has increased to $335 million in
2003 despite overall purchasing reduction. The company has made significant
progress in core business areas (sweeteners and ingredients, packaging,
marketing equipment) as well as non-traditional areas, such as accounting,
treasury and training.

Toyota's spend with minority suppliers grew from $40 million in 1997 to
$650 million in 2003. Toyota has established an aggressive minority content
target: 7.5% of all Tier I purchases to be procured from NMSDC-certified MBEs
by 2005.

Both companies have several initiatives in place to develop suppliers,
including financial assistance, educational fellowships and technical
training, mentoring/capacity building, and assistance with joint
ventures/strategic alliances. Their Second Tier Programs require prime
suppliers (minority as well as majority) to establish minority supplier
development programs.

Deberah M. Stone, corporate supplier diversity manager for BellSouth
Corporation, received the MBE Coordinator of the Year award in recognition of
innovative supplier development activities and leadership across industry
groups and across the country.

Three top minority businesses were also recognized as national "Suppliers
of the Year" for excellence in business acumen and community service. They
are: Muqiz Engineering, Houston, Texas; Prestige Design Group, Atlanta,
Georgia; and Pyramid Consulting, Norcross, Georgia.

"These are some of NMSDC's highest awards, given to minority suppliers who
distinguish themselves and their businesses by successfully demonstrating
growth in sales and employment while overcoming significant obstacles;
consistently providing high quality products and services at competitive
prices; and significantly contributing to the growth and development of
society in their community," said Harriet R. Michel, president of the National
Minority Supplier Development Council.

Nine minority businesses were honored as regional "Suppliers of the Year".
The winners are: America's Finest Filters, Louisville, Kentucky; Cam-Tre'
Innovations, Southfield, Michigan; Chemico Systems, Pontiac, Michigan; Eclaro
International, New York, New York; General Maintenance Company, Burlington,
North Carolina; Ideal Electrical Supply Corporation, Washington, D.C.;
Pinnacle Technical Resources, Dallas, Texas; Rose International, Chesterfield,
Missouri; and Wise Business Services, Dallas, Texas.

The Houston Minority Business Council was awarded the Council of the Year
award, for providing stellar services to hundreds of corporations and minority
businesses in the Houston area.

Appreciation awards for outstanding volunteer leadership were presented to
William J. Moon, vice president, procurement services, United Parcel Service
and Thomas W. Sidlik, executive vice president, global procurement and supply,
DaimlerChrysler.

Providing a direct link between corporate America and minority-owned
businesses is the primary objective of the National Minority Supplier
Development Council, one of the country's leading business membership
organizations. It was chartered in 1972 to provide increased procurement and
business opportunities for minority businesses of all sizes.

The NMSDC Network includes a national office in New York and 39 Regional
Councils across the country. There are 3,500 corporate members throughout the
network, including America's top publicly-owned, privately-owned and foreign-
owned companies as well as universities, hospitals and other buying
institutions. The Regional Councils certify and match more than 15,000
minority-owned businesses with member corporations that want to purchase goods
and services.

For more information about the National Minority Supplier Development
Council, call (212) 944-2430 or check the Web site at http://www.nmsdc.org