Frito-Lay, a unit of PepsiCo, which operates one of the largest private delivery fleets in the country, honored Santa Monica, Calif.-based Gladstein, Neandross and Associates (GNA) as a "Supplier of the year during the annual PepsiCo Frito-Lay Fleet Expo in St. Louis.

The award was presented to GNA by Frito-Lay Director of Fleet Engineering and Sustainability Joe Gold and Finance Manager Donna Rampone. GNA was one of 12 awardees that were recognized thsi year out of PepsiCo's hundreds of suppliers.

GNA was recognized for its extensive work with Frito-Lay's fleet and compliance teams, specifically assisting them with the development of their nationwide natural gas vehicle (NGV) fleet program and compliance efforts in California. Since 2011, GNA has worked with Frito-Lay to develop and implement a strategic NGV deployment plan that uses a cost-effective combination of existing and newly constructed natural gas fueling stations that are specifically designed to accommodate heavy-duty trucks.

GNA spearheaded Frito-Lay's innovative efforts to expand third-party fueling infrastructure that will result in the construction and operation of seven or more public-access compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in areas near Frito-Lay hauling operations. Beyond these NGV initiatives, GNA has also helped to orchestrate Frito-Lay's compliance planning and reporting to the California Air Resources Board for all vehicles and equipment operating in California.