Manitoba's Top Employers

24 CULTIVATING A SUCCESSFUL WORKPLACE BY TODD LEWYS While some companies struggle to find ways to attract and retain younger workers, Roquette – a global pioneer of plant- based specialty proteins for the food, nutrition and health markets that's been in business since 1933 — has not. There's a simple reason, says Anu Baldner, Roquette's Manitoba director of human resources. "We work hard at getting to know what makes our employees tick," she says. "We've found they want to work for a company that's considerate of their needs, that promotes community involvement, and that recognizes the importance of innovation and sustainability." Indeed, a key part of Roquette's company culture is a commitment to both the health of consumers and the health of the environment, something that comes naturally to the company as a producer of natural, healthy food ingredients. "A new focus on healthy lifestyles and the health of the planet is driving a revolution in the food industry. Consumers want products that are healthy for them, and that are sourced and created sustainably – without harming the environment," says Jim Bozikis, Head of Communications and Public Affairs for Roquette in the Americas. "Because of that focus, the demand for plant proteins is growing explosively in the human nutrition market, particularly for new and innovative sources such as peas," Bozikis says. One of the ways Roquette will meet that demand is by opening the world's largest pea protein processing plant here in Manitoba. The new plant, expected to begin operation at the end of 2020 in Portage la Prairie, will join Roquette's existing pea protein plant in France. Their combined pea-processing capacity will be the largest in the world. While Roquette looks to staff that new plant with dedicated, hard-working employees, the family-oriented company also recognizes the importance of maintaining a good work-life balance. Consequently, both recent grads — not to mention longtime employees — are encouraged to get involved in the community they work and live in. "Recent graduates want to make a difference, and to them that means getting out into the community to help make it a better place. We're all for that," she says. "The better an employee's work-life balance is, the happier they'll be. That translates into better performance at work." At the same time, Roquette's management team strives to engage employees, new and old, on several levels. "Our management team maintains an open- door policy and works hard at communicating clearly with employees. They also conduct plenty of team-building exercises to help people get to know each other better. The better everyone communicates, the better we're going to do as an organization." Baldner adds that recent grads also appreciate Roquette's strong commitment to wellness. "We give, not just new employees, but all employees incentives for fitness memberships and actively promote nutrition and weight management. We're genuinely concerned about the health of our employees. I think they recognize that." What's the secret behind Roquette's uncanny ability to attract and retain employees? "I think our employees first and foremost see great value in what we do as a company: We imagine and offer innovative ingredients to satisfy our customers' needs worldwide," says Bozikis. "The people who make up our company also value the family heritage and strong values at the heart of our organization's culture. That's what drives our vision of long- term growth for the benefit of our employees, our customers and for our planet." We're Ha'Pea to be one of Manitoba's Top Employers for 2020! Our new, state-of-the-art pea protein plant in Portage la Prairie will become operational at the end of 2020. Come join our team and be part of the exciting future of food! Visit www.roquette.com/careers - Follow us on Linkedin ROQUETTE CANADA LTD.

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