ECOTONE ACHIEVES GREAT PLACE TO WORK CERTIFICATION®

International natural food company, Ecotone has joined the community of Great Place To Work certified businesses® 2021. The certification, which is the highest level of recognition of the quality of the work environment, is effective from April 27, 2021. 

Employing over 1,600 people across seven countries, the purpose-driven company has two sites in the UK in Surrey and Dorset which are home to household brands Clipper Teas, Whole Earth, Kallo and Mrs Crimble’s. 

A mission-led business, Ecotone is part of the B Corp movement, which prioritises employee health and well-being, in addition to championing a fair and inclusive culture. B Corp companies put employees at the heart of their business and offer the best possible working conditions. 

These efforts are now recognised by the Great Place To Work certification® in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Germany. 

Ecotone prides itself on working collaboratively with all employees who embody the company’s focus on healthy food that’s better for people and the planet. Overall, 84% of participants across all Ecotone sites said they were committed to deliver the Food for Biodiversity mission.  

Ecotone employees are guided by the key values of Cooperation, Agility, Responsibility and Entrepreneurial spirit (CARE). Everyone is regularly invited to contribute to the company’s strategy, advise on areas for improvement and share best practices.  

Through an internal initiative called ‘I’m In’ which includes workshops and resources, Ecotone strives to be a truly inclusive company. In the Great Place to Work survey, 90-96% of employees agreed that the business treats people fairly, regardless of sexual orientation, race or gender. 

In the UK, Ecotone had an 82% participation rate in the Great Place To Work® survey. It scored positively on credibility, fairness, respect, pride and camaraderie. Three quarters of participants declared Ecotone UK as a great place to work.  

With a commitment to employee wellbeing, UK workers have access to a specialist platform called Flourish which supports mental, physical and financial wellbeing. This has been particularly valuable during the covid-19 pandemic with employees having remote access to webinars, fitness classes, workshops and one-on-one sessions with an independent expert. 

Ecotone seeks to raise awareness and engage employees in its sustainability journey, educate them about the impact of food production on biodiversity and Ecotone’s role in making a difference. This is reflected in the company’s annual Organic Day, which brings together all Ecotone workplaces across Europe through fun and interactive activities, guest speakers and group discussions focused on the positive role of natural, organic and vegetarian food. 

About Ecotone 

With a long-standing commitment to healthier people and planet, Ecotone (formerly Royal Wessanen) has been making natural and organic food for over 250 years. Today it is a leading company in the European market for organic and vegetarian food. It is also the first and largest international food business to be fully B Corp certified. Committed to balancing profit with doing good for people and the planet, in 2020 the company turnover was € 700 million. 

In 2020, the company changed its name from Wessanen to Ecotone to reflect its new mission of Food for Biodiversity. With offices and production sites across seven countries, the business employs around 1,600 people and is headquartered in Lyon, France. Its status has been changed to a ‘mission-led business’ according to French law (PACTE). 

Find out more >> www.ecotone.bio 

Great Place To Work®  is the leading player on quality of life at work. Our teams of experts have been supporting the cultural transformation of organizations for more than 25 years. Thanks to a structuring and unique methodology, we evaluate the perception of employees and the practices of companies. We also offer tailor-made support solutions to help organizations become and remain great places to work and to anchor trust at the heart of their corporate culture. The goal: to sustainably nurture their overall performance and the development of their employees! 

How are companies valued?

Our methodology makes us unique and different. We evaluate companies using two tools: 

- Trust Index© is a survey of employees.

- The Culture Audit© assesses the quality and diversity of management practices implemented within the company.