On this International Women's Rights Day, we celebrate the progress made towards gender equality while acknowledging the persistent challenges that remain. At Foodles, we are committed to playing our part in promoting gender equality and creating an environment where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive and succeed. 

This day holds particular significance as it offers us the opportunity to highlight our ongoing efforts to promote an inclusive and equal work environment.

With this in mind, we closely examine our commitment to equality through the Egapro report. From parity in leadership positions to promoting an inclusive ecosystem, we are proud of the progress we have made and are committed to going even further in our quest for equality.

📖 Professional Parity at Foodles: Illuminating through the EGApro Index:

In 2023, Foodles scored 94 out of 100 in the Gender Equality Index, demonstrating our firm commitment to gender equality within our company. Another figure, 45% of our managers are women!

The Gender Equality Index, mandated by French legislation for any company with more than 50 employees, is a crucial tool for assessing and measuring gender pay gaps while evaluating actions taken to mitigate them.

This result reflects our ongoing commitment, and we pledge to continue our efforts to promote gender equality.

Beyond the numbers, it's time to spotlight some inspiring women for their journey and evolution within Foodles!

Being a woman in a typically male-dominated operational sector 👷‍♀️ :

In a traditionally male-dominated field like operations, Marie Lou and Maïmouna have forged their paths at Foodles, demonstrating their versatility and determination.

Marie Lou, who started as a temp, says: "I began as a temp worker doing order preparation and delivery, then signed a permanent contract as an Operations Assistant. Since January, I've been a team leader. At almost 27, I'm involved in various tasks, hence my nickname 'moulti-tasker'."

She also highlights the strengths of women in this field: "Women have a different approach to problems, a more active listening based on their experiences to bring new ideas."

Maïmouna, on the other hand, shares her experience: "I started in October 2022 as an order preparer. In February 2023, I got my first promotion and became a preparation animator. Despite the challenges, with my young age and a predominantly male team, I set goals for myself and pushed my limits."

She also emphasizes the feminine qualities that have marked her journey: "Self-confidence, appreciation for teamwork, and always being motivated. My goal was to make everyone smile, even on the toughest days."

Experience of a woman in Tech’ Department👩‍💻

Zhaoxia, on the other hand, works in the Tech/Data department at Foodles. She shares her experience as a woman in a predominantly male environment.

"I began my journey at Foodles in November 2022, initially as a Data Analyst, before recently moving to the position of Data Engineer. Being often the only woman, I've gotten used to this environment. My patience and rigor have set me apart."

She encourages women to pursue their ambitions, whether in tech or elsewhere: "The most important advice is to love what you do, without worrying about prejudices."

Women Leadership within Foodles' COMEX 👩‍💼 : 

Our COMEX consists of 10 leaders, including 4 women! This presents the perfect opportunity to interview two of them: Aurélie Nicolau, Director of Business Ops, and Sidonie Viala, Director of Human Resources, to learn more about their journeys, achievements, challenges, advice, and their strengths as women within the COMEX.

Aurélie, Director of Business Operations, first shares her journey, marked by challenges overcome as a woman in leadership roles.

"My path at Foodles has been marked by a variety of professional experiences. I first joined the Elior Group where I held various positions. These varied roles, such as sector manager in education, Key Account Manager in the health and social care sector, and Operations Director in local authorities, allowed me to acquire deep operational expertise and a strong customer orientation.

After 17 years at Elior, I realized a year-long round-the-world trip with my family. This enchanted break allowed me to step back and reflect on my career aspirations.

Foodles was an opportunity for me to join, in a strategic phase, a human-sized company with strong development and retention ambitions. So, I joined the adventure in December 2021, with the objective of structuring and professionalizing the business operations team.

The ascent has been dizzying; we tripled our client base from 160 accounts when I joined to 480 today. The team currently consists of over 20 portfolio managers, over 90 Foodles officers, and 3 domain experts."

She then shares what makes her professionally proud: "I do a job that I'm passionate about, and I place great importance on transmitting this energy to my teams, clients, peers, and management.

My fantastic team at Foodles, that's a real source of pride! Different, endearing, mobilized, and highly committed personalities 🧡! Without them, Foodles wouldn't be the company it is today!"

Aurélie also proudly mentions the obstacles she has overcome: "Making my place in a male-dominated environment with more experienced men and in a sector of the restaurant industry not very open to positioning women in operational leadership roles. My tenacity, hard work, commitment, and interpersonal skills were assets in reaching these positions and demonstrating that I had the skills to hold these responsibilities."

Aurélie also has some advice for young women aspiring to leadership positions: "It's essential to believe in your skills and never underestimate yourself. Hard work and authenticity are the keys to success. Never let others' doubts hinder your path."

Lastly, Aurélie emphasizes the importance of diversity within Foodles' COMEX: "Regardless of gender, it's essential in my opinion to have COMEX members from all backgrounds with diverse professional experiences, different expertise, and diverse sensitivities to enrich discussions, share each other's doubts, sometimes confront each other, all with a single objective, broaden the vision, be aligned, in order to define a strategic plan shared by all."

As for Sidonie, our HR Director, she shares her remarkable journey, marked by challenges as a woman in leadership positions.

"My professional journey began after my studies in business school, with a specialization in HR and communication. I progressed in HR development roles over the years, eventually reaching the position of Director of Human Resources about ten years ago. My professional experiences led me to work in various sectors such as fashion, electronics, cosmetics, before turning to the technology industry six years ago."

Her greatest pride?

"Contributing to the success of my former technology company, Ledger, was a rewarding experience. I was proud to accompany the ups and downs of the business while maintaining a positive work atmosphere, a reputation as an attractive employer, and a high level of commitment from the teams."

Asked about the challenges faced as a woman, Sidonie mentions balancing professional and family life: "Managing this balance is a constant challenge for many women, including myself. We aspire to do everything well, but sometimes we feel like we're doing everything wrong."

Sidonie emphasizes the importance of self-belief: "I still see too often among young women a certain reluctance to put themselves forward. My advice is simple: believe in your skills and never underestimate your value."

Lastly, Sidonie highlights the benefits of gender diversity within Foodles' COMEX: "Gender diversity promotes cohesion and serenity in exchanges. Diverse perspectives enrich our discussions and allow us to approach challenges from different angles, which is beneficial for our decision-making and overall performance."