Diversity

Diversity

Internally, the core of diversity at Edlong is supporting an inclusive workplace, with a culture that encourages each person to contribute, be heard, and be treated with respect. Everyone is valued no matter their role, employee job title, or pay scale, because we truly care about our people.

Edlong Commercial Team Women

Diversity is Part of Edlong’s DNA

As a Certified Women-Owned flavor house, diversity is woven throughout the fabric of our organization from both an internal and external perspective. We create our own initiatives and philanthropic commitments to cultivate and nourish diversity and inclusion in all that we do – including in our relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and partners.

Dairy Can Be Inclusive


By creating an inclusive culture that respects all of our people, everyone has the opportunity and is encouraged to participate, share, understand and have a seat at the table.

“I strongly believe that by creating an atmosphere where every person is valued no matter what role, it not only helps the individual grow but helps the business grow as well. By focusing on a culture that values individual, yet differing viewpoints, we’ve created an organization that is racially, generationally, intellectually, and skillfully diverse—which stimulates new thinking across functions and teams.”
Laurette Rondenet Edlong CEO & Owner

Studies show that inclusive companies are nearly twice as likely to be innovation leaders in their market.

At Edlong we see it happen every day; our track record of accelerating innovation for our customers is respected and celebrated throughout the food and beverage industry. Our diversity provides fresh perspectives and unique experiences that benefit our customers, while also allowing us to qualify for customer diversity programs. We value our diverse workplace, and these alternative viewpoints for creativity and innovation result in the best-possible outcome for our customers and their products.

By focusing on a culture that values inclusivity and differing viewpoints, we’ve created an organization that is racially, intergenerationally, and skillfully diverse—which stimulates new thinking across functions and teams. We value our diverse workplace, and these alternative viewpoints for creativity and innovation result in the best-possible outcome for our customers and their products.

Edlong provides our customers with a clear path for your brand to support initiatives that are important to your company and consumers like tracking corporate diversity spend and opening opportunities to gain additional business through channels that seek diverse partner organizations.

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edlong_Diversity

Starbucks nominated Edlong as a Trendsetting Women-Owned Business Making an Impact in Food & Beverage and Agriculture, by way of what Edlong has done, what you’ve meant to our business, and by what you do with your other customers – and how your business is run as a whole.”

James Hing, Global Category Manager of Supplier Diversity, Starbucks

Edlong is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE), which requires a rigorous certification process from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) which promotes diversity in commerce, expands opportunities and eliminates marketplace barriers for women business owners.

In addition to WBENC, we are also active members and support NMSDC (National Minority Supplier Development Council) NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners), and BDR (Billion Dollar Roundtable) . We also actively seek opportunities to develop and support the next generation of food scientists—whether they be girls (such as through our work with Girls Inc.) or economically underprivileged students who benefit from career mentorship (such as through Female Strong and its programs like YEA!).

We continually examine our own suppliers’ commitment to diversity and seek to increase our own diversity spend.


Edlong’s unique position as an international company allows us to have many diverse and bilingual employees, which helps both in internal and external communication and collaboration. Edlong has also been recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of Chicago’s Best Places to Work for Minorities, and is a multi-year winner of numerous Best Places to Work awards.

For more information on our diversity efforts and successes, contact us.

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