This is a company with continuous growth and we are all part of it

What I admire the most in this company is the respect for its employees, with no distinction from the job level!

How long have you worked at Vitacress?

22 years

Tell us a bit about your roles within Vitacress?

I started working in Vitacress in 2001 in reception and expedition of produce. Back then, we only had the export business. After two years, my role was expanded and I also started doing quality control. It was here that I started having closer contact with baby leaf and learning about quality demanded by our customers. With the growth of the Iberian market, our production increased and I was invited to go to the farm Quality Control team to reduce harvest rejections. That’s when I started my journey with the farms; first with quality control and later, with the Harvest team. My last 14 years have been dedicated to harvest and management of produce received in the factory. By the end of 2022 I was challenged to take a new role in supply chain planning, which I have accepted and where I am now.

In your experience, are there training and development opportunities for people at Vitacress?

Our success is the success of the Company and training is one of the main pillars to allow us to achieve great results together. Based on my experience, the lack of expertise in one area is never a limiting factor on our professional growth in Vitacress. If there’s interest and commitment from the employee, training and development is always provided by the Company.

Have you received support for your development?

Yes, it was here that I started my journey in agronomy, always with support and encouragement!

Sum up Vitacress in three words?

Human, respectful, trustworthy.

What would you say to a new person joining the company?

Be resilient and transform moments into great learning opportunities. This is a company in continuous growth and we are all part of it, so share new ideas without any fear, and ask when you don’t know. As I usually say, there are no stupid questions, stupid is to be left without understanding!

Share a happy memory/funny story/key fact

During my journey as harvest manager in Azenha, I remember receiving a last minute request for a truck to be delivered when the harvest team was no longer present. In that moment, I didn’t know if we could meet the client’s request, but it showed how important it is to work as a team. I contacted some people and, what seemed impossible, became possible! After that, we went out for dinner together with a feeling of accomplished duty and proud of what we were able to deliver, together! As Michael Jordan says, “Talent wins games, but only team work wins championships”.

Simon Hues

Production Director, Vitacress Portugal

I have always enjoyed working on the farms with the growers in all geographies, a great team of grounded people. Baby leaf is fast moving and I have a lot going on all the time. This is one of the most intensive forms of outdoor farming, which you get a bit of a buzz from.

Julie Nilssen-Francis

Raw Material Planner - Procurement, Vitacress Herbs

I started on a Graduate Programme in September 2021, and was meant to stay on the programme for two years rotating across four different parts of the business. However, I was offered a permanent position during my first placement, and ended up moving into an R&D Coordinator position in January 2022.

Nathaniel Wood

Harvest Supervisor – Mullens Farm

I spent 18 months working across various parts of the business within the growing/agronomy teams and on the farms. I worked on projects, many of which focused on our Second Nature priorities as we work towards net zero. For over a year now, I’ve worked at Mullens farm in Wiltshire managing the harvest team and getting involved in as many projects as possible.

Leah Mathias-Collins

Group Environment Manager

My main responsibility is the management and delivery of the Vitacress environmental sustainability plan, Second Nature; brand ambassador for environmentally sustainability; leading the net zero Science Based Targets initiative; maintaining awareness of current legislation, emerging issues, international, national and local environmental issues, and manage their implications.

Madalina Brutu

Process Improvement Coordinator, Vitacress Salads

I joined in September 2018 working a few days a week with no real plan. Since then, I’ve worked in a quality auditor role and after three years, having built up my experience and understanding of the business, I moved to a process improvement role to progress my career with Vitacress.