SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 27, 2025— Saputo USA was recognized today with the second annual IDFA Workplace of the Year Award at IDFA’s Dairy Forum in San Antonio, Texas. The award, co-sponsored by IDFA and Dairy Processing magazine, is given each year to an outstanding IDFA member company that has created policies to promote a positive workplace experience for employees. Award recipients demonstrate efforts to support women and minorities, create cultures of inclusiveness and respect, support professional development, establish paid parental leave and flexible work hours, and gender pay equality, among other criteria.
“The International Dairy Foods Association is proud to honor Saputo USA with the 2025 Workplace of the Year Award, recognizing a company committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace that supports the growth and well-being of all employees,” said IDFA Senior Vice President for Trade and Workforce Policy Becky Rasdall Vargas. “It was evident to the judges that Saputo USA seeks to create a work environment where everyone feels valued and empowered, from establishing employee resource groups and offering professional development and mentorship, to fostering a culture of two-way communication with employees that includes sharing information on internal audits and seeking input on workplace policies. IDFA congratulates Saputo USA on this honor.”
In a blind review of the nominees, the panel of judges determined that Saputo USA set a high bar for their programs and policies focused on gender balance and parity, leadership and professional development, paid parental leave and flexible work, and creating a culture of inclusiveness and respect for all people with a special focus on women and minorities. For example, the company’s Advancing Gender Balance initiative sets a goal of increasing the representation of women to 30% at senior levels in the company (vice president and above). Additionally, Saputo USA invests in employees with continuous training and development programs, with a focus on retaining talent, reducing turnover, and promoting from within. The company’s employee wellbeing programs, exceptional medical benefits, and commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of its employees’ families, was impressive to the judges. The company’s commitment to other key benchmarks, including an enduring global commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, were viewed as industry leading.
“As a proud IDFA member organization, we are humbled by this recognition,” said Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Saputo USA Terri Bryant-Harrell. “We know great employees make great products. Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, and we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment through programs and policies that support them in both their personal and professional lives. Creating a workplace where our teams can grow and thrive is a journey that demands constant focus and unwavering commitment, but it’s one we eagerly embrace as we stay true to the values that Saputo was built on over 70 years ago.”
Previous winners of the IDFA Workplace of the Year Award co-sponsored by IDFA and Dairy Processing magazine, are Schreiber Foods (2024).
A call for nominations for the 2026 Workplace of the Year Award will be released this summer. More information about the award can be found here.
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Contact: press@idfa.org
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3.2 million jobs that generate $49 billion in direct wages and $794 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA’s diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent most of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.