Welcome to the wonderful world of BENEO!
When I first joined BENEO, the much-talked-about “Welcome on Board” week quickly became a recurring topic of conversation. It sounded like the perfect blend of learning, connecting and fun. A full week of getting to know all aspects of BENEO, going from visiting factories all the way to learning more about the responsibilities of different teams, together with other colleagues who recently joined the company: sign me up! Yet, until you experience it firsthand, it’s hard to grasp just how impactful it truly is.
To say I was eagerly counting down the days until it was my turn to join the Welcome on Board week would be an understatement. As the start date approached, I learned that the group was incredibly diverse, with participants joining from across the globe. While some of us came from nearby countries like Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Poland, others embarked on much longer journeys from the United States, Singapore, India, and Chile. From the very start, it was clear: this week would be something special.
With so many highlights, I could easily fill 10 pages here. So, for this blog, I’ll focus on a few standout experiences from my perspective as a member of BENEO’s Marketing team.
Ready, Set, Dinner, Go!
On Sunday evening, the week kicked off with a warm welcome dinner evening that set the tone for what was to come: connection, excitement, and a shared eagerness to dive into the world of BENEO. By the end of the evening, as participants we had already gotten to know each other, which only heightened the anticipation for the packed agenda ahead.
Learning and exploring
On Monday morning, we officially began our learning week at BENEO’s offices in Mannheim, Germany, with a series of presentations. These provided a deep dive into the various teams and divisions within BENEO. It was interesting to learn more about each of their vital roles and how they contribute to keeping the BENEO machine running smoothly. As the Marketing team took the stage, I couldn’t help but to feel pride to be a part of this great team!
A standout moment for me was the active involvement of our Board members. They took time out of their packed schedules to not only welcome us on the first day, but to also join us at multiple sessions throughout the week. To me personally, their presence reinforced that BENEO’s commitment to our corporate value “care”1 is more than a slogan, it’s a lived value. This topic came up in quite a lot of conversations throughout the week and I think that I can speak for quite some participants that we felt and feel grateful to work for a company like BENEO.
After a day packed with lots of new information, we enjoyed the evening event in the German wine region Palatinate. A great way to relax and recharge, before starting the next day fully energised!
Factory visits: bringing ingredients to life
As someone who’s never been to any of BENEO’s factories, my mind was blown to see our different production sites. From the fast-moving visit to the German sites in Offstein, including a glimpse of the brand-new pulse processing factory, all the way to the Belgian factories in Oreye and Wijgmaal. Each location showcased a unique aspect of BENEO’s operations.
While I don’t have a scientific background, seeing the processes firsthand gave me a newfound appreciation for the complexities of production. It’s fascinating to think about how these steps connect to the marketing campaigns we develop together with my team. It was nice to again see the diverseness of our group. While some colleagues do have a scientific background and role within the company, and for which the marketing processes were new territory to discover, it was (luckily 😉) the other way around for me. Including all aspects of BENEO’s daily operations truly gives employees a full 360-degree overview of the company we work hard for, every single day.
To end the factory visits, and because unfortunately we couldn’t all quickly hop on a plane to Chile where BENEO’s second plant to process chicory roots is located, the Chilean team created a captivating video to give us a glimpse into their factory. This ensured that their contributions and presence was felt despite the psychical distance, long live the digital world!
Research and development
From the presentation on the BENEO-Institute, all the way to the BENEO-Technology Center and our tour of the Food Applications Lab, one theme stood out: innovation is at the heart of everything we do. Learning about our cutting-edge research and development efforts to improve people’s health was nothing short of inspiring.
A highlight for me was the Food Applications Lab tour, where I had the chance to taste some of the applications, I’ve worked on in the marketing campaigns. In every sales campaign that we work on as a Marketing Communication team, there are a couple of key applications that always get the spotlight. And to my excitement, some of those applications also got a spot on our tour!
We got the opportunity to try the egg-free meringue and dairy-free feta-style alternative with BENEO’s faba bean protein, both were part of our respective marketing/sales campaign. Another standout application for me was the plant-based fish finger with texturates by Meatless®, which catapulted me right back to my very first sales campaign on ‘Food for the senses’. This already felt like a small ‘full circle moment’ in my short career at BENEO. I can’t wait to experience a lot more of those moments in the upcoming years!
People, passion, and purpose: welcome to BENEO
Throughout the whole week, I experienced countless “aha” moments. Some pieces of the puzzle fell into place, and I truly have a better understanding of the other roles within BENEO. This new knowledge about other departments, the factories, other colleagues, … will undoubtedly make me more effective in my role so the week definitely did its job.
So, all together if I had to sum up the entire experience in just 1 word, even though that’s an incredibly hard task, I would choose the word ‘passion’. It’s electrifying to see how passionate all employees are about what we do here at BENEO. Their strive to innovate, to experiment and to improve is really remarkable. I truly think this level of love for what people do is quite exceptional. I already knew this before the Welcome on board week, but experiencing this feeling with people who are also still rather new in the company is extraordinary.
A special thanks
Finally, a big shoutout to our ladies from the HR department, who worked tirelessly to organize this unforgettable week. Their effort, attention to detail, and yes passion(!) did not go unnoticed. They deserve all the recognition for creating such a meaningful experience.
To summarize this short overview of my much bigger experience: this Welcome on Board week has not only deepened my appreciation for BENEO but also left me even more inspired for the journey ahead. Here’s to many more moments of growth, connection, and innovation with this incredible company!
1The other two values are improvement and inspiration.