Madelyn Huff’s Post

Inspiring words from Ram Krishnan, CEO of one of our Top 100 Global Inspiring Workplaces winner PepsiCo 👏 In his post Ram asks... what changes have you seen or implemented in your workplace to prioritize sustainability and workplace culture? Join the discussion below...

Yesterday, we had the privilege of hosting our newest Kraft Heinz board member, Debby Soo, the CEO of OpenTable, for an inspiring conversation alongside our Chief Learning & Culture Officer, Ekpedeme "Pamay" M. Bassey.     Debby shared her incredible career journey, her excitement for what’s ahead in 2025, and how she stays curious and continuously learns—even with a packed schedule. One of my favorite moments? Hearing how Kraft Heinz has been part of the “soundtrack” of her life.     Here are some of the top takeaways Debby shared during our conversation:     💡 Less is more: Focusing on fewer priorities can help you achieve greater results.  💡 Make time to reflect: In today’s busy world, setting aside time for reflection and deep thinking is key for driving progress.  💡 Embrace discomfort: Getting comfortable being uncomfortable fosters personal and professional growth.  💡 Trust your instincts: More often than not, your gut will lead you to the right decision.  💡Resilience is a practice: It’s not just a business buzzword, resilience is a skill to cultivate daily.     Debby’s insights were as refreshing as they are actionable. What resonated with you the most? Let me know in the comments.  

Great Place to Work, which has surveyed employees around the world about their experiences for three decades, is out with its 2024 Fortune Best Workplaces in Retail List. Several grocers made the cut – and actually went to the head of the class – in this year’s report. Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. came in at No. 1 for the ninth year in a row in fact, based on the criteria of positive employee feedback. The c-store chain Sheetz, Inc. took the second spot, followed by Target Corp. Coming in at No. 5 was Publix Super Markets, Other grocery, mass and c-store leaders in the top tier of the retail workplace rankings include Walmart (No. 7), Nugget Market, Inc. (No. 8), The Spinx Co. (No. 9), Island Pacific Supermarket (No. 11) and ALDI US (No. 18).

This is not a post about chocolate. It’s a culture lesson. Last year I put a call out on LinkedIn for someone from the chocolate industry to help my son with some research for a school project. The power of this platform connected me with a kind man so generous with his time. And yesterday I met him in real life. Michael Huggins (pictured below with us) gave a very warm welcome to Cadbury’s home in Bourneville as it celebrates its 200th year celebrations. My kids expected to eat chocolate all day. What they got instead was a lesson in culture. Everything Michael talked about connected back to the original ethos the Cadbury brothers had envisaged for a business trying to do things differently. Some might say, ahead of their time. Walking around Cadbury World there were so many references to how, over the years, employees were front and centre of decision making - from welfare provisions and healthcare to housing, recreation and celebration. Visitors can’t possibly avoid being immersed in the importance of the company’s culture and its central, yet humble, community role as part of their visit, and so of course it was something I discussed with the kids at length. Today, the business holds on to a Glassdoor score of 4 which I looked up on my way home. Thank you Michael. We all enjoyed meeting you and hearing about your almost four decade long career journey with company. Your passion shines. Link to a brilliant article that explains a bit more about the story behind the business’s culture for those interested. Don’t forget, you can get all my “behind the scenes life of a NED” on Instagram by following at Circles_in_a_circle #culture #companyvalues #employees #values #behaviours

🌟There are so many reasons to be proud of the company I work for, and these are only few of them. I love what I do because I fulfill my desire to be part of people development and to leave a mark in their growth. And what better example is a company which leads with people first culture. 🌟 People are drivers of a better tomorrow! That is why, everything starts with our great people at Molson Coors CEE. Here, we are creating a working environment, where our people feel safe and well, motivated and appreciated, where they can be the best version of themselves. 🚀 🌟 Learn more about how we champion great people in our businesses across Molson Coors CEE. Cheers! 🍻 #TopEmployers #careerinbeer #proudtobepartofit

Last year I shared a post about a couple of “Cool Chix” I serendipitously met during an event at Compass Group USA headquarters. Tracey Richardson (left) is the CEO/co-founder of Lilly’s of Charleston, and Miffy Jones (right) is the owner of Miffy’s Foods. Through the magic of the Foodbuy USA Supplier Diversity Accelerator program and the Eurest USA Better Together program, these women-owned businesses have partnered together to pair Tracey’s sensational seasoning and sauces with Miffy’s amazing all-purpose baking mix on chicken nuggets (“Cool Chix”) and wings (“Fly Chix”). Who doesn’t like food that is both cool and fly! So imagine my delight when I crisscrossed paths again with Tracey and Miffy last week during the Eurest and ESFM Supplier Diversity Summit – “The Power of Intentionality and Partnership” – at Truist Field in Charlotte. A robust mix of representatives from minority- and women-owned businesses came together with Compass leaders and supplier partners to share conversation about growth, distribution strategy, and solutions to the challenges they face on their journey. As Miffy noted during one of the panel discussions, “We’re creative people and we just want to create good stuff.” That good stuff also includes a commitment to inclusivity, making people feel like they belong so that they can be the best version of themselves, and employing folks from the local communities we serve so that our partnerships thrive and endure. Food is at the core of what we do here at Compass – engaging in a way that has meaningful impact is what gives us sustenance. #enchantment #sustenance #dei #eurest #foodbuy #compassgroup

At 2b Limitless, we deeply value our relationship with Kraft Heinz and it was fantastic to reconnect with their dynamic team this week. Our session focused on the vital aspects of developing personal brands and enhancing brand equity. One of the highlights was delving into the power of a growth mindset and the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) in career progression. We drew inspiration from Jeff Bezos’ famous quote: “Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room.” This thought-provoking idea led us to ask: What do you want people to say about you when you are not there? Understanding and shaping this narrative is incredibly powerful. During the session, we explored participants’ strengths using the CliftonStrengths enabling them to identify and build on their areas of strength. Equally important was recognizing areas of weakness to manage around them effectively. By knowing your narrative and exploring the perceptions others might have of you, you can bridge the gap between the two. This self-awareness and proactive approach to personal branding are key to achieving long-term career success and fulfillment. Thank you to the Kraft Heinz team for their enthusiasm and engagement (as always!). We look forward to continuing this journey of growth and development together! Special thanks to Ecaterina Ursu and Sarah T. for making this happen and Olivia Marshall and Dania Saad Mehmod for all your help. Mick Todd, Peter Charles Turner, David Labouchere, Olga Cassidy, Patrick Harrison, Ian Ward, Garreth Ewing, Ciarán McBreen, Jack Wolstencroft, Tony Martin. #yourbrandiseverything #highperformance #eqoveriq #growthmindset #dreamteam

Industry findings have revealed that over a quarter of owners and managers of convenience stores are now aged 30 or under, a figure that has increased over the last 12 months. With the sector changing at a pace we haven’t seen before, it’s more important than ever that we recognise, celebrate and support this young talent and their new ideas – which are vital for the future success of the independent convenience channel. Are you; an owner, manager or person with responsibilities within an independent convenience store? Or know a fellow retailer, whether that's a member of your team, a retailer you work with or a retailer who inspires you? Then why not enter into RN 30 Under Thirty? Entries close 10 August, so enter or nominate before time runs out! https://bit.ly/4dxl9uO Join us, alongside our headline partner BAT as well as supporting partners Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Mondelēz International in shining a spotlight on young talent. #RN30UnderThirty #FutureOfRetail #YoungRetailLeaders Natalie Reeve Lindsay Hudson Charlotte Jesson Lisa Martin Megan Byrne Stefan Appleby Kate Daw Louise Banham Jack Courtez Parin Gohil

Imagine, dear friend, that your entire electricity bill for your entire operation in the United States and around the world will completely disappear? How, with our technology that is capable of generating electricity for 30 different industries around the world, the cost of one kilowatt of ours is 0.03 cents. We have no competitors. We are the only ones in the world with SMR technology that is ready for the global market. And we are already closing the waiting list for the next 5 years due to 10,000 purchases of the facility that is only 2 meters by 3 meters in size. And according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, we are most certain that it can sit in any kitchen in the world. Not only will you not pay for electricity, you will also provide electricity to all your surroundings where you have restaurants. That means you will also sell electricity and you become the largest electricity company in the world. You know how to find me. We are friends together on LinkedIn. 🥂 Ron Luberman Bionikgroup President https://lnkd.in/ghuu7M9 2025 update portfolio.