At Saputo, the company’s leaders believe that an inclusive workplace is fundamental to its success.
“Saputo is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace that supports the growth and well-being of all employees, with a special focus on women and minorities,” said Dominick Bombino, president and chief operating officer for Saputo’s USA dairy division.
That commitment earned Saputo USA the Workplace of the Year title, an annual award co-sponsored by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and Dairy Processing. The award recognizes a company that has created policies to promote a positive workplace experience.
In a blind review, a panel of judges determined that Saputo set a high bar with programs focused on gender balance and parity, professional development and a culture of respect for all employees, with a special focus on women and minorities. From targeted recruitment and employee resource groups to leadership programs and community initiatives, Saputo ensures its workforce is empowered.
Humble beginnings
Saputo is one of the top 10 dairy processors worldwide, with products in more than 60 countries. In the US, it ranks among the top three cheese producers and is a major producer of extended shelf life and cultured dairy products.
The company began in the 1950s, when the Saputo family emigrated from Sicily to Canada. In 1954, with just $500 for equipment and a bicycle for deliveries, the family founded the company. By the 1970s, Saputo became Canada’s leading mozzarella producer. The company went public in 1997, tripled in size by the end of the decade and acquired Stella Foods to establish itself among natural cheese producers in the US. Since then, Saputo has completed 36 acquisitions.
“We are delighted to be part of an industry as vibrant as dairy. Knowing that our high quality products nourish and delight families across the world is an incredible source of pride for me and my colleagues,” Bombino said. “Beyond creating delicious products that people from all walks of life can enjoy, one of the aspects I’ve always cherished about working in dairy is its deep-rooted family culture. Although we have grown into a global organization, our origins trace back to a humble family of Italian immigrants. Many of our peers share similar beginnings, which makes us feel a strong sense of belonging within the industry.”
Photo: Saputo Inc. Holistic approach
At Saputo, respect and inclusion aren’t just buzzwords, but integral to the company’s ethos.
Saputo is guided by five values: Efficiency through simplicity, a family-oriented environment, ownership and commitment, hands-on approach, and passion.
“These guiding principles are at the heart of everything we do and help foster an environment where we can all contribute our very best,” Bombino said. “We ask employees to keep these values in mind as they collaborate with each other, our vendors and our customers, encouraging a culture of openness and growth.”
Saputo’s code of ethics formalizes these values, applying them to all employees. The code provides a standard of behavior in order to continue safeguarding Saputo’s reputation for integrity, quality and behaving ethically.
“As our business has grown and expanded across the globe, the code of ethics has guided all employees by clearly outlining the values and actions the company prioritizes, and how employees should act accordingly,” Bombino said. “From our plant workers to our board of directors, it standardizes expectations for everyone, ensuring we are moving forward together.”
Photo: Saputo Inc.Championing DEI
Saputo fosters inclusivity by creating a culture of respect in which employees feel valued. To support this, the company offers mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training to educate employees on inclusivity and respect. These programs are designed to educate the workforce on the importance of inclusivity and create a supportive environment.
With targeted recruitment and inclusive retention strategies, Saputo aims to diversify its workforce. The company follows inclusive recruitment guidelines and uses competency-based interview guides to mitigate any hiring biases.
“By adhering to these guidelines, we can access a broader talent pool, position Saputo as an employer of choice, and build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our customers and communities,” said Amey Kennedy, director, talent acquisition. “This approach ensures we evaluate operational experiences, leadership skills and emotional intelligence effectively.”
In 2019, Saputo introduced unconscious bias training across all levels of the organization to help managers and employees recognize and address biases in hiring, promotions and workplace interactions. The company also launched a global three-year strategy focused on representation, belonging and gender balance.
“The goals of the ‘people pillar’ of our ‘Saputo promise’ are aligned with fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce,” said Michelle Collins, director, HR programs. “Our global three-year strategy includes the following strategic objectives: Representing the communities we serve and operate in, enhancing our employees’ sense of belonging, increasing gender balance across the organization, and supporting our communities and businesses.”
Additionally, Saputo’s DEI executive council, a group made up of employees from all divisions across the company, provides governance and oversight on DEI efforts, ensures alignment with corporate objectives, and holds leadership accountable.
Photo: Saputo Inc.
Closing the gap
Saputo has taken significant steps to ensure that pay equity is taken seriously. The company conducts regular pay audits to identify and address any gender-based disparities in compensation and maintain transparent practices that ensure employees are fairly compensated regardless of gender.
The company’s efforts have been recognized on the national and international stage. In 2024, Saputo’s dairy divisions in both Canada and the US and its corporate services were awarded gender parity certifications from Women in Governance, a North American non-profit focused on empowering women in leadership.
In line with its commitment to gender equality, Saputo launched its Advancing Gender Balance initiative in 2023, which aims to increase the representation of women at senior levels (vice president and above) to 30%. But the company isn’t stopping there. Gender equality is also embedded in the nomination process for the board of directors, where 60% of the members are women, ensuring diverse voices are present at the highest levels of decision-making.
“Just as we are dedicated to finding better and safer ways to produce our products, we are equally committed to improving our employee experience,” Collins said. “We may know intuitively that creating a more equitable and balanced workforce is ‘the right thing to do,’ but there are tangible impacts to this undertaking.”
Collins explained that balanced workforces have more diverse opinions and voices – this range of thinking leads to more innovation and better decision-making.
“We each have more ways to learn and grow in our career when we’re surrounded by teammates with different backgrounds and perspectives,” she said.
Photo: Saputo Inc.
The employee experience
Saputo’s commitment to employee development is one of the key ways it creates an environment in which diversity and inclusion can flourish. The company offers mentorship, leadership training and continuous learning opportunities to employees at all levels. In 2024 alone, Saputo invested $12.6 million and 195,000 hours in employee training and development. As a result, it promoted 1,359 employees internally. The company also emphasizes internal mobility, which helps to retain top talent while providing pathways for career advancement.
Saputo recognizes the importance of providing employees with flexibility to manage both their professional and personal lives. The company offers paid parental leave, including six weeks of fully paid time off for birth mothers, fathers and adoptive parents, along with an adoption benefit to help offset costs associated with adoption.
For employees seeking flexibility in their work arrangements, Saputo offers a flex work policy, which allows employees to work from home up to two days a week, pursue part-time work, take unpaid leave or sabbaticals, and utilize staggered start and end times. These options enable employees to create a work-life balance that suits their needs, contributing to higher job satisfaction and retention.
“We understand that today’s workers desire more flexibility than ever before, and we have carefully examined how to best balance this with the needs of the business,” said Terri Bryant-Harrell, senior vice president, human resources. “We have adopted a hybrid work policy that allows these eligible office employees to work from home two days a week.
“While this same schedule isn’t available to our plant workers, we are constantly seeking innovative ways to offer them comparable options, including flexible work schedules.”
Saputo is not only focused on improving the workplace, but also on fostering stronger, healthier communities. The company’s Volunteering Time Off (VTO) program allows employees to take one paid day off per year to volunteer for a non-profit organization of their choice. In 2024, nearly 10% of Saputo’s employees used this time to give back, collectively contributing 10,489 hours to local charities.
Saputo also supports employees’ community engagement through its You Care We Care program, which provides financial contributions or product donations to causes that matter to employees. In Canada, the company supported 27 different causes in 2024, while in the US, Saputo partnered with 4H, offering educational opportunities for youth to learn about the dairy industry and career opportunities.
Saputo is dedicated to continually assessing its efforts, gathering feedback from employees, and refining its programs to ensure that everyone – regardless of gender, background or identity – has the tools, resources and support they need to thrive. By investing in their people and creating a culture of inclusivity and respect, Saputo is not only strengthening its global workforce, but also setting a powerful example for other organizations to follow.
“With a distributed workforce, we must be extremely vigilant in ensuring strong communication between our sites and offices, maintaining a clear strategy, and providing leaders with the support they need to work towards common goals,” Bombino said. “We are constantly evaluating new technology and tools to address this challenge, as well as investing in leadership development for our people.”
