To empower individuals, foster potential, and build strong internal career paths, three talent programs have been established within the division SARIA Ingredients & Energy. Depending on professional experience, interested employees get the chance to focus on their own career (GROW Talents), grow into a leadership role (LEAD your people) or develop into a role as a specialist (LEAD your field).

Who can participate?

Whether you are an employee of Daka, SARVAL, ReFood, SecAnim, SARIA UK or SARIA Poland—these training programs are suitable for all employees of the division.

GROW Talents

For young professionals in their first years within the SARIA Group, GROW provides tools to build self-awareness, identify personal strengths, and enhance key skills, especially in communication and collaboration. GROW is about looking inwards: what characterizes my personality and what tools can I use to solve potential challenges in my day-to-day work? Ideally, after completing the program, participants will feel confident to align their career goals with their skill set and take the next steps in their professional development within the SARIA Group.

LEAD your people & your field

The LEAD programs are designed for employees who already have a role with greater responsibility within the organization —either as managers with direct leadership responsibility or as high-level experts and specialists who drive key topics within their fields. In contrast to GROW, LEAD focuses primarily on one’s own external impact and appearance in regards of stakeholder and change management. While their focus differs – leaders manage people, and specialists influence stakeholders – the objective for LEAD remains the same: to develop the skills, mindset, and confidence needed to shape the future of the organization.

What to expect?

For all programs, self-awareness is the foundation upon which all development is built. That is why you are offered a personality test that focuses primarily on your own values and personal motivations. Training communication skills is also essential for any development program. Particularly in the LEAD programs it is important to strike the right tone with stakeholders, whether in employee meetings or project presentations. With the help of collegiate advice, everyday situations, crucial conversations, and individual challenges from professional practice are discussed together in the GROW and LEAD program groups to learn from each other and develop solutions together.

As part of the accompanying program, site visits across Europe are conducted to provide a tangible foundation to all participants of each program for understanding the operational side of SARIA’s businesses, which is at the core of what we do. In addition, there are social get-togethers after the training sessions, where experienced SARIA talents or so-called ‘veterans’ reveal their personal success story within the Group.

All information, discussions, and results within the meetings will be treated with absolute confidentiality. At the end, each participant receives a certificate confirming the successful completion of the program.

Take control of your future

Are you interested in shaping your professional future within the SARIA Group?  The next call for applications will start in Q4 this year! Check out the information about application requirements and registration options on Connect or get in personal contact with Franziska Jungmann, Talent & Development Manager.

Since its launch in 2023, the shared intranet Connect has evolved into a powerful communication tool across SARIA Ingredients & Energy.

With nearly 8,000 users onboarded, the platform now reaches employees in 11 countries – Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Spain, Italy, France, Lithuania, UK, Romania, and Denmark. The rollout continues, with SARVAL Wet activities in the US currently being integrated.

Mobile App: From factory floor to office desk

A key highlight of Connect is its accessibility: for the first time, non-desk worker can join digital conversation via the app.

This inclusive approach plays a vital role in strengthening our shared company culture and makes cross-border, cross-level collaboration more seamless than ever. Whether on the move or at a desk, everyone can now access group-wide news and updates at their fingertips.

Facts that speak for themselves

• 158 pages provide departmental or business information, documents and helpful templates
• Over 1,470 timeline posts, blog and wiki articles have been published since launch in 2023
• Engagement is strong: 11,926 likes, 767 shares, and 358 comments
• More than four decentralized intranets have already been merged into Connect
• Language barriers are no longer a blocker – thanks to the built-in translation feature, local content is read and liked internationally

A milestone uniting 8,000 colleagues

Connect isn’t just another tool – it’s the heartbeat of how the teams share, support, and grow together within SARIA. From factory floors to office desks, across 11 countries (and counting), we’ve built a space where every voice can be heard.

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The wet pet food production site in Cuijk (Netherlands) is focusing on modernization and automation for the future and therefore started a major transformation process in 2024. The strategic investment in the site improves the ability to meet increasing demand while strengthening the long-term commitment to operational efficiency, product quality and sustainability.

Investment in upgrades

The upgraded site features a fully automated crane system, robotic palletizers, and advanced pumping technologies that streamline production flow. An increased freezing capacity from 500 to 800 metric tons per week allows SARVAL Wet to serve customers with greater speed and consistency.

The site now uses CO₂ instead of ammonia in its plate freezers, which enables the plant to run at lower temperatures and lower power consumption and has installed energy-efficient compressors – steps that earned recognition through a government energy savings subsidy. In 2026, SARVAL will introduce energy recovery systems to further reduce environmental impact by reusing the energy coming from the freezers to heat the water in the washer.

Customer focus

With enhanced automation and optimized raw material handling, the Cuijk site supports longer shelf life and higher product quality, while ensuring full traceability. To further strengthen customer support, SARVAL has also established a dedicated business unit for wet pet food, offering tailored solutions and closer collaboration with pet food producers across Europe and the U.S.  

Liudvikas Morkunas, Managing Director (MD) of the business unit SARVAL Wet, said: “We are incredibly proud of the investments made in Cuijk. By leveraging automation and innovative technologies, we’re positioning ourselves as the partner of choice for the global pet food industry. Our mission for sustainable production supports our customers in advancing their own sustainability goals. By co-developing single ingredients and custom blends tailored to specific requirements, we deliver on a truly customer-centric approach with an essentially on-demand product offering.”

History of Cuijk

Cuijk is a location with a long tradition, as it was the headquarters of the Teeuwissen Group, which specialized in the collection, processing, recycling and trading of animal by-products and meat products. Teeuwissen became a fully consolidated part of the SARIA Group in 2014, before the two companies Van Hessen and Teeuwissen were merged under the name Van Hessen within the Group in 2017. Van Hessen and its team remain at the site to this day. This makes Cuijk one of the few, if not the only, locations where both the activities of SARIA Ingredients & Energy and SARIA Food & Pharma are based, and in this case even share the same building.

One of the most exciting parts of T. Quality’s evolution is the growing visibility and impact of women across its business. From field-based sales roles to operations, finance, management, and depot leadership, women are helping to shape the future of T.Quality and the wider foodservice industry.

Lack of female representation

The wholesale sector has seen a notable increase in female representation at senior levels. According to a survey by Women in Wholesale (WiW), the proportion of women at board level in UK wholesale has risen from 11% to 20% over the past six years, marking an 82% increase. However, this still lags behind other industries, where the average stands at 29%. Furthermore, women occupy an estimated 9% of senior management and executive positions in the top 30 UK wholesale companies, compared to 26% across the FTSE 100. These figures highlight both the progress made and the work still needed to achieve gender parity in the industry.

Women in leadership positions

For Zoe Addison, Finance Director at T.Quality, joining the board as the first female member marks a major milestone. Overseeing finance, credit control, and IT, she plays a key strategic role in the business. “TQ hires the best person for the job, regardless of gender,” Zoe explains. “But I’m really proud to see women now represented at every level—from warehouse operatives to depot managers.” In Bovey Tracey, Sales Centre Manager Sarah Davie leads a fast-paced operation that serves a diverse range of customers. With over a decade of experience at T.Quality, she’s passionate about developing her team and building strong relationships.

Progression is the key

That theme of progression runs strongly through the journey of Kirsty Longhorn, who started as a Sales Advisor and now works as Key Business Development Executive for the North. “Five years ago I didn’t know anything about the industry,” she says. “Now I’m supporting key accounts and building business relationships across the country. I’d tell any woman thinking about a career in foodservice: just go for it!” Business Development Manager Lorna Brown shares that enthusiasm. She thrives on the customer interaction and freedom her role brings.

At the Glasgow depot, Team Leader Laura Brown manages the sales team and oversees the trade counter, reception, and export orders. She’s had a series of promotions since starting as a Sales Advisor and was recently nominated for Employee of the Year at the Scottish Wholesale Awards. Meanwhile, Operations Manager Tina Lynch has been leading transformation at the Avonmouth depot of T.Quality. Her focus on team empowerment and process improvement has helped the site move forward with renewed energy. In Leeds, Sales Centre Manager Maria Bainton brings a uniquely valuable perspective to her role—having once been a T.Quality customer herself. She joined the company five years ago, during the COVID pandemic, stepping into a Sales Advisor role. Maria says. “I’ve been lucky enough to grow within T.Quality and now get to support customers the same way I was once supported. It’s been a brilliant journey. “

T.Quality knows that diversity drives better decision-making, stronger relationships, and greater success for the customers. The company keeps creating space for women to grow, offering the tools and encouragement needed to thrive, and celebrating every achievement—big or small. A true inspiration for the whole Group.

ReFood Poland, in collaboration with the Institute of Innovation and Responsible Development (INNOWO), is taking a bold step toward transforming the way bio-waste is managed in the HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants, Catering) sector. On May 27, 2025, the two organizations co-hosted a high-profile conference titled “New Bioeconomy Strategies for Europe: Systemic Changes in Bio-Waste Management in Poland” at the Polish Press Agency headquarters in Warsaw.

This event marks a significant milestone in ReFood’s strategy to open up to the media and engage in meaningful dialogue with key stakeholders—including government representatives, scientists, and business leaders. The goal is clear: to advocate for clear regulatory recommendations that would allow food waste from restaurants to be classified as Category 3 animal by-products (ABP), enabling specialized companies like ReFood to collect and process them into clean energy and organic fertilizers.

Relevance for ReFood and the business

• Business Growth: Clearer regulations and increased awareness could unlock a new stream of B2B clients from the HoReCa sector, expanding ReFood’s market reach.
• Media Visibility: By inviting journalists and thought leaders, ReFood is positioning itself as a key voice in the national sustainability conversation.
• Stakeholder Engagement: The conference fosters collaboration with ministries, health authorities, academia, and the gastronomy sector—laying the groundwork for systemic change.
• Environmental Impact: Diverting food waste from municipal systems to professional processing reduces landfill use, cuts CO₂ emissions, and supports circular economy goals.

Conference highlights

• Panel Discussion: Featuring representatives from the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, Warsaw University of Technology, ReFood Poland, and well-known restaurateur Agnieszka Kręglicka.
• Case Study Presentation: Joint report by ReFood and INNOWO on the benefits of selective bio-waste collection in HoReCa.
• Q&A Session: Addressing regulatory, operational, and scientific perspectives.

This initiative not only strengthens ReFood’s leadership in sustainable waste management but also demonstrates how proactive communication and stakeholder alignment can drive both environmental and business value.

The partnership between ReFood Spain and Spanish supermarket group Hiper Usera has prevented the emission of 12,200 tons of CO₂ in just one and a half years.

Dealing with food surpluses

The collaboration between the Madrid-based supermarket operator and wholesaler has been in place since May 2023 and ensures the efficient management of food surpluses, reducing waste and enabling a more sustainable future. ReFood’s system for surplus food that is not suitable for human consumption enables proper sorting and optimal utilization of the collected materials. For example, all meat and fish products that can no longer be used are collected by ReFood and forwarded to SARVAL and Bioceval for further processing for the pet food and animal feed industries. To date, more than 12,200 tons of CO₂ emissions have been saved, which is equivalent to more than 4 million kilometers driven or 103 trips around the world.

Comments on the partnership

Roberto Pérez, Environment & Sustainability Manager at ReFood, praises the partnership: “Our collaboration with Hiper Usera is a clear example of how companies can work together to have a positive impact on the environment and society. Thanks to our shared vision with Hiper Usera, we have been able to save thousands of tons of CO₂ emissions and convert waste into valuable resources, bringing us closer to a circular economy model that benefits everyone.”

Eduardo Escribano, Head of Quality at Hiper Usera, said: “Working with ReFood has led to a significant improvement in the disposal of by-products, which is now carried out in a sustainable manner and in accordance with current regulations.” He also points out the importance of “continuing to work together to tackle the future food waste hierarchy with confidence.”

Commitment to the environment

This collaboration reinforces ReFood’s commitment to caring for the environment, a continuous effort that takes the form of specific actions such as the sustainable management of food surpluses, the recovery of waste to minimize its environmental impact, and the implementation of efficient solutions that reduce our carbon footprint. In addition, initiatives such as the optimization of logistics resources, the use of advanced technologies such as RFID, and strict regulatory compliance demonstrate our commitment to a sustainable model that generates value while protecting the planet.