HORSHAM, PA — Baking giant Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) published Our Foundation of Belonging, the company’s 2021 diversity, equity and belonging report.
This report highlights BBU’s accomplishments in 2021 in its workforce, workplace and marketplace framework. It also introduces the company’s three-year goals and commitments as the it continues advancing diversity, equity and belonging across the 33 countries it operates in.
“Our Foundation of Belonging Report highlights the progress of our past and our Diversity, Equity & Belonging path for the future,” said Fred Penny, president of BBU. “Recognizing we have much more work to do, we have established goals and commitments for the next three years to ensure that we remain results oriented.”
In 2021, BBU’s Racial Equity Action Council (REAC) continued working to renew people practices, create a culture of belonging and promote racial equity in BBU through investments in minority equity organizations, the establishment of business inclusion groups and more.
To improve its recruitment, BBU expanded its diverse slate requirements to include diversity in gender and race. Nikki Lang, head of diversity, equity and belonging, was also added to meetings regarding recruitment strategy and candidate debrief.
The REAC also implemented Racial Equity Strategy Training in 2021, which requires at least 1.5 hours of training for all salaried associates annually. In partnership with the learning and development team, the REAC curate e-courses, videos, podcasts and books related to racial equity and diversity education.
BBU also included REAC in its marketing asset review process in effort to reflect the company’s marketplace. This inclusion continues the company’s pledge to ensure diversity and equity across BBU’s marketing.
With 2022 marking 10 years of diversity, equity and belonging efforts at BBU, the company shared its three-year goals across the workforce, workplace and marketplace. Overall, these goals include increasing representation across the workforce, providing more diversity, equity and belonging educational programming and trainings, and expanding supplier diversity.
“We are committed to building a workforce, creating a work environment and establishing a meaningful presence in the marketplace that actively promotes diversity and equity, and ultimately achieves Belonging for our associates and within our communities,” Lang said.
The full report is available here.