A young, growing company with a strong team spirit and the freedom to create your own opportunities. That’s how Caroline van Heugten describes Cefetra Dairy. She discusses the company’s culture, sustainability efforts and more. ‘Our openness also applies to potential new colleagues.’
A phone call
When Caroline was doing a master’s in International Business, a job fair was organized for alumni of her bachelor Food & Business. ‘Peter, the managing director, gave a talk about Cefetra Dairy there. The company had only been around for six months then. I spoke to him, and he gave me his card. A week later I called him to ask if there was a job available. I spent a day at the company, and in the evening I got an offer.’
“I enjoy the opportunity to make things happen”
Caroline van Heugten – Communications & New Business Development
Communications and sustainability
After six months in the logistics team, Caroline joined the commercial department. ‘My focus is on communications and sustainability. I’m responsible for our positioning, our communication strategy, and our online presence. I also take care of events: what are we going to do at a fair, what will the booth look like, how do we promote ourselves?’
‘Regarding sustainability, we gather input from various disciplines in a work group. Which aspects of sustainability will we focus on in the coming period? What’s the next thing we can improve? Furthermore, we are collecting data, performing measurements, and reporting on them. We are figuring out how we can reduce emissions throughout the chain together with our suppliers and partners.’
Rollercoaster
‘It’s been quite a roller coaster so far,’ Caroline says. ‘Because we are a fast-growing company, there is always something new to take care of. If I think ‘we should try this’ and the director thinks it’s a good idea, then I can go arrange it. I really enjoy the opportunity to make things happen. That’s why my role is so diverse.’
‘I am a generalist rather than a specialist. I know and understand the processes in our company. I would like to maintain the variety in the work I do at Cefetra Dairy, and further develop my leadership skills.’
Different languages and perspectives
‘It’s great to see how the company is developing. We already have an international character. In the office, for example, I hear Spanish, Polish, Mandarin, French and Arabic around me. The people we gather around us also bring new perspectives and ideas. That benefits our work.’
‘As we grow, we have to maintain our culture. The team spirit is important at Cefetra Dairy, we are there for each other. We are equal, all of us can take initiative. We appreciate each other’s efforts and we let each other know.’
‘Our openness also applies to potential new colleagues. If you are curious about what it is like to work with us, just get in touch. Maybe you can come and have a look.’
