Training

In 2023, the number of people trained in food safety and hygiene decreased 8%. In the same period, training volume increased 16.5%, although there was a decrease in the number of training courses. This increase in volume is explained by the fact that there were significantly more courses and more employees trained in Colombia compared to 2022.

Training in Poland encompassed 21,926 employees, 3.6% less than in 2022. Similar to the aggregated data, there was a decrease in training courses (10.7% less), resulting in a lower volume of training than in 2022 (21.3% less). Some of the topics covered included:

• food safety systems, as per international HACCP standards;
• good hygiene and production practices, with an emphasis on product temperature control and the cold chain;
• waste separation for recycling, washing and cleaning activities, particularly for refrigerated packages, to ensure good food production and hygiene practices;
• FIFO management (first in, first out) for fruit and vegetables in distribution centres.

Similarly, training volume in Portugal decreased 22.2%, as a result of fewer employees involved (38.1% less) and fewer training courses (34.8% less). These generalised reductions are explained by the fact that a one-off course, initially launched for all store employees, has been completed by the majority of the target audience and was only intended for new employees in 2023. Training topics included:

• requirements associated with the food safety management system, under the international HACCP risk control standard;
• good food hygiene, food safety and food defence practices.

In Colombia there was an increase in all three indicators: employees trained (14.6% more) and training courses (143.3% more), resulting in 40.6% increase in training volume. These increases are explained by Ara’s expansion. The training covered topics such as:

• the cold chain and critical control points;
• in-store hygiene plan, water control and waste handling;
• quality audits and control visits;
• the handling of meat and other products prepared in the store.