Seeing the Essential Work of Our Team through the Eyes of Our Loved Ones

A strong team culture doesn’t appear by chance—it’s built by leaders who empower their teams to take ownership of what they do. Not just of operational goals and facility metrics, but of their workplace environment and community. Across Lineage’s global network, empowered leadership means creating spaces where team members feel heard, valued and proud of the work they do every day.

One recent example where our team helped nurture and grow that sense of ownership comes from our teams in Harnes and Arras, France.  

Team member-focused initiatives transform struggles to strength

Opening a new facility is always a challenge. Beyond the realities of construction, there is also the immense pressure of putting together an entire team that can work in the fast, physical and detail-oriented world of cold storage logistics. Couple this with opening during the Covid-19 pandemic, and you’re setting yourself up for a challenge.

After getting into their operational groove, the local leadership in Harnes and Arras came together and asked: What can we do to build our teams up?

Through a mix of collaborative planning, open communication and deep trust in their colleagues, each team began designing engagement efforts that fit into their site’s culture and seasonal rhythms. Whether it was celebrating milestones, hosting volunteer events or planning Family Days festivities, these initiatives gave everyone a sense of ownership and pride in what they do.

Their initiative speaks to a crucial component of supply chain leadership: team member engagement is essential to achieving business outcomes. It is the glue that helps keep the team and the products we handle safe, bolsters retention and ultimately overall performance for customers. When team members feel connected to their peers and leaders, they don’t just show up, they do their best.

Family Days create lasting connections and community for our team by letting family members “look inside the box”

For those outside the industry, cold storage warehouses look like big, anonymous boxes. Look inside though and it’s basically an orchestra where each team member plays a vital role keeping food moving from farm to dinner table. The sheer scale, the cutting-edge technology and the snap-shot precision required to keep operations flowing smoothly leaves those who haven’t taken a peek inside before with their jaws on the floor. For many of our own team members’ families, this world is something they’ve only heard about, not experienced first-hand. That’s what made the Family Days events so powerful.

As recalled by Regional HR Manager, Samyr Meddad, “[The team members] were very, very proud—there was a lot of emotion to show their work, their warehouse space, their forklift to their family. And after, of course, to share a meal all together, it was also important to take a moment to talk with the team members and their families.”

That pride is contagious.

Family Days offered a glimpse into what everyday work looks like, from forklifts humming to stacked pallets and bundling up for freezing temperatures. Kids see where their parents spend their days. Spouses and partners understand the complexity and importance of the work. All coming together to create a lasting connection and community amongst their teams.

General Manager, Rémy Scatizzi shared his thoughts on the events: “They were very happy, of course, to share. It was very important, and we showed it in a real, safe way—so they could really see the work of their father or mother. The warehouse is always impressive the first time you see it. You forget that when you work there every day, but when you see it through the eyes of your family—it’s amazing.”

Family Days stands as a testament to Lineage’s belief that the best engagement strategies come from within. Starting with empowered teams who know what makes their workplace special.

The lasting impact of team member engagement

After Family Days had ended—the banners taken down and the families returned home—the impact was already becoming apparent. Teams returned to work with renewed energy and connection along with a noticeable boost in morale and communication.

The pride that comes from building connections amongst team members across sites and regions translated into motivation. That motivation didn’t stay confined to one facility either. Leaders noted best practices and stored them in their toolbox for later.

For Lineage, we see our culture as a defining strength in a highly competitive industry. We strive to create teams that thrive because they feel connected to each other, to their leaders and to our shared purpose of feeding the world.

Proud of our work, proud of our team and culture

Lineage’s workplace culture, at its core, is about more than efficiency or outputs—it’s about team members who take pride in their work, care about their colleagues and bring their full, authentic selves to what they do each day.

Family Days are just one expression of that culture. They encapsulate the fact that empowered leaders build empowered teams. They create environments where pride and connection grow naturally.

Empowered leadership at Lineage goes beyond barking orders and a “do as I say” mentality. It means giving teams the trust, tools and freedom to create the kind of workplace they’re proud to be part of. From morale-boosting events to site-led engagement plans, every initiative reflects a belief in our team’s ability to build an extraordinary workplace culture.

At Lineage, culture isn’t just something we talk about—it’s something we’re all in on as a team. Our team’s voice, connection and passion are what makes Lineage an awesome place to work.