National wholesaler JJ Food Service has set a target to employ at least 20% female warehouse staff by 2018 as it looks to increase diversity within the company.
The wholesaler is hoping that the push for a greater representation of women will extend to the senior positions in the company and is hoping to find its first female branch manager as a result of the drive.
JJ Food Service HQ Branch Manager, Sedat Kaan Hendekli, said: “Many of our managers started in warehouse roles learning the job from the ground up. By broadening our talent pool from the bottom, we are more likely to progress women into senior level positions, which will no doubt have a positive impact across the business.
“Our female employees are hardworking, honest and trustworthy – they set an excellent example for everyone and fit well into our warehouse team. We are actively encouraging and progressing more female applicants.”
Commenting on the progress JJ Food Service had already made, Hendekli said: “At the start of the year we had a mainly male workforce in the Enfield warehouse. Six months later 8% of the team is female, and it’s still growing.”
JJ Food Service, founded in 1988, supplies to a number of the food industry sectors including restaurants, pubs, schools and universities.