Welcome to the second series of “The Tip of the Iceberg” podcast, hosted by LeAnne Ruzzamenti, Marketing and Communications Director at Equitable Food Initiative (EFI). In this episode, she is joined by Gretchen Grani, Vice President of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) for Bonduelle Fresh Americas.
A continuation of the stewardship commitment the company started 170 years ago in France, Bonduelle Fresh Americas gained B Corp certification for their US operation in December, part of a company-wide goal to have all business units certified by 2025. Becoming the first fresh produce company in the US to achieve this certification when it comes to large growers, shippers, or processors. This aligns with their commitment to positively impact people, the planet and food.
Gaining B Corp certification has brought a range of positive outcomes for Bonduelle Fresh Americas, including differentiation and solidifying their position as a trusted supplier. In addition, this third-party certification has acted as validation for work already being done and an opportunity to be part of the network of other B Corp-certified companies to push change in the global system.
This certification has also positively impacted Bonduelle Fresh Americas’ stakeholders and has brought better recruitment practices and employee engagement. One initiative they launched since gaining certification is inclusive hiring practices in all their manufacturers and plants. Hiring and training 200 chronically unemployed individuals for the program. Partnering with local nonprofits and labor agencies, they eliminated background checks and drug screenings, ensured fair wages and benefits, and provided professional development training. A proven win-win, benefiting the economy while providing a steady recruiting pipeline.
Certifications are often about validating the good things companies are doing, but the idea goes further. It becomes a path for continuous improvement, commitment, and a constant raising of the bar. Listen to the podcast to learn more about the journey Bonduelle Fresh did to become B Corp certified.
