Insights

From Startups to Giants: Meeting Atlanta’s Food Manufacturing Workforce Needs

Metro Atlanta is becoming a manufacturing center for food and other products. The geographic location, transportation hubs, infrastructure, and clusters of corporate headquarters make the area a leading global center for supply chain management.

Leading Atlanta Food Manufacturing Firms

Atlanta is home to diverse food manufacturing firms:

  • The Coca-Cola Company is a total beverage company offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries and territories.
  • Cinnabon is a worldwide phenomenon serving baked goods such as the Classic Roll, Minibon, Cinnabon Bites, Caramel Pecanbon, CinnaPacks, Cinnabon Stix, and Classic Roll cupcakes.
  • good2grow® is a children’s beverage company that uses fun to help kids consume healthier foods.
  • Agrosuper is a leading protein provider specializing in chicken, pork, turkey, and processed products, with a strong international presence and over 60 years of experience in the industry.
  • AJC International Offices is a leading marketer of proteins produced around the globe.

Top Workforce Challenges for Atlanta’s Food Manufacturing Startups

Three of the top workforce challenges for Atlanta’s food manufacturing startups include talent acquisition, employee training and development, and talent retention:

Talent acquisition

Food manufacturing startups must implement creative strategies to hire qualified talent. Creating an attractive employer brand, using social media to attract job seekers, and partnering with a food manufacturing staffing firm can help.

Employee training and development

Ongoing training and development opportunities must always be available. Enhancing employee knowledge and skills improves performance, adds organizational value, and strengthens career advancement.

Talent retention

Effective talent retention saves time and money on hiring, onboarding, and training. An attractive company culture, clear career paths, and competitive compensation, benefits, and perks encourage long-term employment.

Top Workforce Challenges for Atlanta’s Food Manufacturing Giants

Three of the top workforce challenges for Atlanta’s food manufacturing giants include technological integration, communication barriers, and employee engagement:

Technological integration for global collaboration

Integrating technologies for global collaboration is a lifeline for food manufacturing firms. For instance, one company that operates in over 190 countries implemented a cloud-based collaboration tool for its employees to work together in real-time. The platform improved productivity and led to a 30% reduction in project turnaround times.

Cultural diversity and communication barriers

Although large food manufacturing firms such as Coca-Cola, whose employees come from over 200 countries, value workforce diversity, communication barriers can hinder collaboration. For instance, a marketing campaign targeted to a South American audience did not resonate because the American team overlooked local customs and humor. To prevent future issues, Coca-Cola implemented Culture Chats for teams to discuss cultural nuances for better understanding and communication.

Employee engagement across regions

Cultural differences in diverse regions can create challenges with employee engagement. For instance, when one company experienced problems with employee engagement in its East Asian branches, the organization transitioned from a top-down communication style to a more collaborative approach. Using technologies to facilitate open dialogue and employee feedback sessions led to a 30% increase in employee satisfaction.

Get Help Filling Your Food Manufacturing Workforce Needs

Let Impact Staffing get to work providing customized staffing solutions to meet your food manufacturing company’s needs. Contact us to discuss your staffing requirements today.