Humane Practices
Over its 145 years of history, Cargill has built up a competitive edge in the market to enhance its business.
Brand – The Cargill brand is synonymous with ethical behavior, reliability, efficiency and safety for employees, customers, suppliers and communities. The company always seeks to consolidate and preserve the brand, including adherence to strict standards of visual identity so that their operations are recognized as unique, synergistic and committed to its Strategic Intent. Furthermore, it constantly invests in product improvement and marketing in order to reinforce some of the major brands on the domestic market, such as Liza, Mazola, Purilev, Maria, Oliva, Gourmet and Veleiro.
Innovation – Continual support to innovation through investments in research and technology, and in employee training, keeps the company at the forefront of business and enhances its ability to develop more sustainable solutions.
In 2009, Cargill’s CEO announced the introduction of an Innovation System, set to be concluded in 2012, which aims to further boost effectiveness of company innovation strategies with improved synergy between the various operational locations in addition to reducing costs. With a structured approach, common language and a set of tools capable of improving performance and capturing the value of each creation, this new system will enable the identification of customers, a better understanding of behavioral factors and provide access to information on competitors and market rules. The idea is also to increase sale of innovative projects with focus on the client. To this end, a database will be set up to record successful practices that will be evaluated, implemented and disseminated.
The company is set to inaugurate a Food Innovation Center in Campinas (state of São Paulo) that will enable integration of the work between the food ingredient Business Units in Latin America.
People – Cargill understands that individuals are key to the success of the organization, since they are the ones who put company values into practice in their daily activities and work to attain its goals and objectives. To this end, significant resources are allocated each year to promote employee training and wellbeing.
Logistics – The logistic infrastructure provides flexibility for the adoption of solutions appropriate for each customer and sector. In the quest for more economical and efficient ways of carrying out its operations, Cargill has plants in strategic locations, along with an infrastructure that includes warehouses, transshipment hubs and port terminals distributed throughout 13 Brazilian states.
Solidity and reputation – Cargill’s financial strength and the fact that it always honors its commitments are advantages that contribute to winning new customers, suppliers and partners and to maintaining lasting relationships with them.
Broad scope – Its presence in several countries and the wide range of businesses in different sectors give the company better conditions to overcome adversity and negotiate, along with the flexibility to continue or discontinue investments in line with its corporate strategy.
Awards – In 2009, Cargill was recognized with the following awards:
• 150 Best Companies to Work For – for the ninth consecutive year, Cargill was listed in the ranking list of "Você S.A." and "Exame" magazines.
• Largest & Best, Exame Magazine – in the Exame magazine ranking, Cargill figured as the second-largest agribusiness company in the country and as the largest in the Southeast Region. It also went up from 22nd to 17th position among the top 50 private institutions of Brazil in sales and moved into third place among the 10 largest US companies in Brazil.
• Executive of Value – Cargill’s CEO in Brazil, Marcelo Martins, received this award from "Valor Econômico" newspaper in the Agribusiness category.
• Abrasca Award – Cargill ranked third in the list of closed-capital companies for the 11th Abrasca Award of Annual Report and Social Responsibility Accounts issued by the Brazilian Association of Listed Companies.
• Best Technical Communication – The Starches & Sweeteners Business Unit received this award from the Brazilian Technical Association of Pulp & Paper (ABTCP).
