Explore every episode of the podcast The Sustainable Table - Business Leaders Talk Welfare

How do you get teams excited about sustainability? What does it take to build trust with suppliers and drive real change? In this episode, Anil Viswanathan, Vice President and Managing Director of Mondelez Vietnam, joins Elissa Lane to share how Mondelez is making progress on its cage-free egg commitment in Vietnam.

Anil brings his decades of experience and expertise in marketing, sustainability, and leadership to the conversation, offering insights on:

✅ Engaging teams and fostering a culture of sustainability
✅ Building strong partnerships with egg suppliers
✅ Strengthening consumer trust through responsible sourcing

Tune in for a practical discussion on driving corporate sustainability and supporting local farmers in the transition to cage-free eggs.

Join Winda Sukma, a leading voice from Garrya Bianti Yogyakarta, part of the esteemed Banyan Tree Group, as she delves into the transformative cage-free projects spearheaded by the hotel. In this engaging session, Winda will share the inspiring journey of how Garrya Bianti Yogyakarta is working hand-in-hand with Global Food Partners and Universitas Gadjah Mada to champion local women’s cooperatives, enhance animal welfare, and promote sustainable practices in the hospitality industry. Learn how these initiatives are empowering women in the community, creating lasting economic opportunities, and setting new standards for ethical and responsible sourcing. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the intersection of sustainability, social impact, and innovative solutions for a better future.

Following our recent webinar on Solutions for Cage-free Processed Eggs in India, we received numerous follow-up questions and requests for more details. While many of the companies we work with have successfully sourced cage-free shell eggs in India, finding reliable solutions for cage-free processed eggs remains a challenge.

To address this, we invited Manjunath Marappan, CEO and Co-founder of Happy Hens—one of India’s leading cage-free producers and among the first to achieve certification in the country.

In this insightful discussion, Manjunath shares a producer’s perspective on what it takes for companies to transition to cage-free processed eggs. He walks us through key factors such as volume requirements, buyer commitments, and delivery logistics. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear firsthand how food and hospitality businesses can make the switch to cage-free processed eggs.

In this episode of The Sustainable Table: Business Leaders Talk Welfare, host Elissa Lane sits down with Pak Win, the Deputy Director of Market Transformation for the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in Indonesia. Pak Win shares his insights and experiences with RSPO's credits program, which has transformed the sustainable palm oil market. 

Listeners will gain valuable knowledge on how: 

• RSPO credits have enabled companies to meet their sustainability goals and support and incentivise local sustainable farmers
• Global Food Partners' cage-free credits (Impact Incentives) can do the same for companies looking to meet their cage-free egg commitments in Asia

Tune in to gain deep insights into the transformative power of credits programs and learn how they drive sustainability and responsible sourcing in the palm oil and cage-free egg industries. Don't miss Pak Win's valuable lessons and practical advice for businesses committed to responsible sourcing and welfare initiatives.

Tune into our latest China-focused episode featuring two of the country's leading cage-free experts! Join us as we sit down with Michael Han, Vice President of Ovodan China, one of the nation's top egg processing companies, and Lisa Yang, Director of Global Food Partners in China. We address the most frequently asked questions from food and hospitality businesses about:

• The cage-free landscape in China: types of systems, welfare certifications, and national regulations.
• Ovodan's capacity to supply and expand its range of cage-free processed eggs.
• How food businesses can transition to a cage-free processed egg supply chain.
• What to expect in terms of cost.

Don't miss this insightful discussion on cage-free eggs in China!

In this episode, we sit down with Dawn Neo, the Director of Corporate Engagement at Global Food Partners, to delve into the transformative steps companies are taking towards cage-free implementation in Asia. As a trailblazer in this field, Dawn shares her invaluable experience and insights, offering a unique perspective on the evolution and future of the cage-free movement in the region. Join us for an enlightening conversation that uncovers the challenges, successes, and innovative strategies driving this critical change.

We had the pleasure of hosting Jub Nongchanok Stananonth, the General Manager of The Coffee Club Thailand, under Minor Food Group. With restaurants across Thailand, Jub shares how The Coffee Club has been able to transition to cage-free sourcing, and proactively communicate the initiative to guests. She shares effective marketing and communication strategies, tips for food businesses who want to go cage free, and the overwhelming positive feedback from guests. Tune in to learn more about their cage-free journey and how offering cage-free eggs has increased customer satisfaction!

In this episode, we sit down with Richard Tan, the Vice President of Procurement for the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Greater China) at Marriott International. With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Richard shares his journey, successes, and valuable advice on transitioning to cage free eggs as a hospitality leader in Asia. He recounts eye-opening visits to conventional caged farms, and how seeing the condition of the animals in cages instilled in him a personal conviction to create change and do the right thing. 

Richard talks about Marriott's cage-free progress in Asia, and outlines three pivotal actions that have helped him instil supplier confidence. He shares Marriott's goal of achieving 50% cage-free implementation within the next 12 months, and imparts strategic advice for those implementing similar commitments in the hospitality sector.

As the episode concludes, Richard leaves us with a piece of advice that helps keep him grounded: "how you do business is as important as the business that you do," advocating for introspection and purposeful change in the pursuit of a sustainable and humane future.

Join us in this insightful episode as we sit down with Ryan Bennett, the Executive Director of the International Poultry Welfare Alliance (IPWA) and the US Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs. Ryan talks to us about IPWA's mission to elevate poultry welfare worldwide, and the organisation's outcomes-based key welfare indicators.

Ryan shares his personal journey, growing up surrounded by livestock and ultimately stepping into leadership roles at two influential organisations. He also talks about the challenges faced by U.S. egg farmers going cage free, the confidence-building factors during the transition, and lessons applicable to Asia. 

Ryan shares key actions that have enabled food businesses to successfully transition to cage free in the United States, including:

• Providing certainty and financial signals to farmers, including long-term buying commitments
• Full supply chain engagement
• Working closely with technical experts

Tune in to learn how a collaborative approach can drive positive change in the egg industry and beyond.

Episode notes:
IPWA Key Welfare Indicator Guides: https://poultrywelfare.org/KWI_Reference_Guide
IPWA Free Intro Course: https://fresno-state.reach360.com/learn/course/db683a02-676d-4cba-abe3-0816317470b7
Online Modules: https://jcast.fresnostate.edu/ifa/coop/training.html

Meet Ron Pohl, the visionary leader driving corporate sustainability at BWH Hotel Group and World Hotels. As President of International Operations at BWH Hotel Group and President of WorldHotels, Ron shares how sustainability and doing the right thing are not just corporate goals, but a very personal commitment. In our captivating chat, Ron uncovers the details of BWH's latest initiative, "Because We Care", designed to make a positive impact on the environment and society, across the 100 countries in which they operate globally. This initiative falls perfectly in line with their global cage-free egg commitment, reinforcing the company's mission to improve animal welfare. 

Tune in to hear more about Ron's sustainability journey, the cage-free challenges and opportunities Best Western is experiencing in Asia, and the company's localised approach to creating impact, while respecting local differences and communities.

Season 1, Episode 1: Pioneering Sustainable Sourcing in China: A Conversation with Christine Wen, Compass Group China's Procurement and Supply Chain Director

In this inaugural episode of "The Sustainable Table - Business Leaders Talk Welfare," host Elissa Lane, GFP CEO and co-founder, welcomes Christine Wen, Procurement and Supply Chain Director at Compass Group China. Based in the city of Shanghai, Christine has been a key player in revolutionising sourcing strategies to embrace sustainability and animal welfare.
Join us as Christine shares her journey over the past year and a half, working closely with Elissa and her team at Global Food Partners. This collaboration has been instrumental in developing Compass Group China’s cage-free implementation roadmap, marking a significant step towards successful implementation of their cage-free policy and sustainable and ethical food sourcing in China.
Christine delves into the challenges and successes of initiating and executing this groundbreaking shift to cage-free eggs in one of the world's largest markets. This episode offers a rare glimpse into the complexities of integrating cage-free policies in a corporate setting and its ripple effects on suppliers, consumers, and the industry at large.
Tune in for an inspiring story of change, leadership, and commitment to a more sustainable future in the food and hospitality industry.