JJ Team attends Diversity in Wholesale

Updated: 23 February, 2024

Updated: 23 February, 2024

This week we attended the FWD's Inaugural Diversity in Wholesale conference, which was a fantastic day. The theme was 'Celebrate Difference' and we heard from inspiring speakers and participated in workshops promoting various forms of diversity.

Elit and Adi with delegates at Diversity in Wholesale

Here’s our top-five diversity takeaways

1. Inclusion comes first – if people don’t feel included and welcome in your company – they will not stay, simple as that! That’s why diversity and inclusion go hand in hand.

2. Brave conversations – 52% of people would rather put up with a bad situation than tackle it. That’s why it’s so important to have the courage to speak up said Holly Pennington, HR & Training Manager for Parfetts

Helen Cooke speaking at Diversity in Wholesale

3. Employee Resource Groups are a great way to support specific pillars of inclusion within your company. Build communities and get passionate people involved in championing them, said Nic Storey, Field Sales Director for Pepsico.

4. LQBTQ+ – Pronouns (he/him, she/her, them/their are important, never make assumptions about how people identify, said Jason Finch, Director of We are Unicorm.

Delegates networking at diversity in wholesale lunch

5. Disability – 21% of the working age population have a disability – if you are not creating an environment where everyone can succeed, you are missing out on a huge talent pool explained Helen Cooke, Founder and CEO of MyPlus.

The event is organised by JJ Head of Communications, Elit Rowland and all the photos were taken by our talented videographer, Adi Paleri. JJ Foodservice is a founding supporting of the Women in Wholesale initiative and a supporter of Diversity in Wholesale.

We are grateful for the inspiration and look forward to next year's conference!