How Vandemoortele puts its Food Heroes at the center of attention

Food Group Vandemoortele makes delicious bakery products, margarines, sauces and so much more every day. But obviously not without the help of its many Food Heroes, which is why it cherishes them so much. Through several programs, the family business is committed to a safe and pleasant workplace and to the well-being of its employees. 

Jean Vandemoortele, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said, "I am immensely proud of the way occupational safety has improved in recent years. We have substantially reduced the number, and especially the severity, of accidents. And that's with an increase in the number of temporary workers. This is due to the robust safety strategies and procedures we have put in place."

I care, U2?

In 2015, Vandemoortele launched the "I CARE, U2?" safety program. It focused on basic safety rules, safety tools and soft skills training. In 2021, the manufacturer made great strides in their approach to general safety. They host safety days and training on specific safety topics and the safe behaviors expected in specific situations. The main focus is to encourage all employees to think about safety before they act.

Thanks to safety tools such as observation rounds and root cause analyses, the Factory of The Future winner manages to avoid risks and control safety in the workplace. Annually, the company analyzes how many workplace accidents occurred and how serious they were. In 2020, Vandemoortele reached a milestone of 1,000 days without serious accidents.

By the way, did you know that Vandemoortele Izegem has been named a Factory of The Future? The company uses digitalization and technology to give employees more autonomy. Thanks to this people-oriented approach, Vandemoortele is also armed in the "war for talent" in and around West Flanders.

Personal development first

Vandemoortele wants to be a "great place to work" and offer its food heroes opportunities for their development and empowerment. An engaging work environment also breeds greater trust between employees and managers. 

The Vandemoortele Adacemy offers training, coaching, consulting and other learning opportunities to help employees keep their talents and skills up to par. Using the well-known Associate Engagement Survey (AES), the company monitors and assesses the engagement and happiness of its employees at various levels.

Want more figures and examples of how Vandemoortele is committed to future-proof careers? Consult the Vandemoortele's 2021 annual report.

fevia.be / food.be