Parent company of CGT, EnsembleIQ, has been named a “Best Place to Work in Chicago” based on a survey of company employees. Comparably included EnsembleIQ in its ranking due to the company’s outstanding culture and leadership.

EnsembleIQ received “A” level grades for its company leadership, office culture, and overall team. Survey analysis revealed 95% of employees look forward to interacting with co-workers; 81% report they are happy with their work-life balance; 95% are proud to be part of the company; and many employees commonly receive constructive criticism or positive feedback every week.

Comparably awards are derived from sentiment ratings anonymously provided by employees about their workplaces, and winners are determined based on 20 core culture metrics — ranging from work-life balance and environment to compensation and career growth.

EnsembleIQ chief executive officer Jennifer Litterick said, “This study clearly shows that EnsembleIQ employees appreciate our positive culture and strong corporate values. Our employees are the foundation of our business, and I am proud to collaborate with them as we drive growth by delivering actionable business intelligence and connections to business professionals and solution providers in the retail, healthcare and hospitality markets.”

In recent years, EnsembleIQ leadership has transformed the organization into a North American business intelligence company. This has included rebuilding the company’s executive leadership team to include financial, people, operations and content, and communications executives — all especially focused around innovation. 

The company also has created a performance-based culture; recruited high-performing employees from diverse backgrounds with high levels of information services, technology, and emotional intelligence; bolstered morale through new people programs that help connect employees with each other; and provided strong leadership development programs and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council. 

All of these factors have significantly contributed to the evaluation by employees that has resulted in Comparably honoring EnsembleIQ as a “Best Place to Work in Chicago.”

“An organization’s culture starts at the top,” said Comparably CEO Jason Nazar. “According to feedback from employees at EnsembleIQ, they believe their CEO is an extraordinary leader who is creating an excellent workplace culture.”

EnsembleIQ — North America’s leading source of insightful information and actionable connections in retail, healthcare and hospitality — is headquartered in Chicago, also operates out of a Toronto office, and includes team members working remotely throughout the U.S. and Canada. 

Nestlé USA is investing $675 million to build a high-tech beverage facility in Glendale, AZ, to produce creamers for its Coffee mate, Coffee mate natural bliss, and Starbucks brands.

The factory, which will create more than 350 jobs, is expected to open in 2024 and will be able to expand to additional beverages in the future.

“Beverages play an increasingly important role in the lives of consumers, a trend that’s been accelerated by the pandemic and is expected to continue to grow,” said Daniel Jhung, president of beverage, Nestlé USA. “This investment illustrates our continued commitment to leading and growing categories where we play, providing consumers with a variety of high-quality, innovative products to meet their needs.”

[See also: Nestlé Plans To Double Consumer Data Records]

Nestlé chose the location because of its proximity to customers and consumers in the western U.S., thereby reducing transport timelines and emissions, and it described the facility as its most technologically advanced factory and distribution center. In addition to housing a water recycling process to reduce water usage, the 630,000-square-foot facility will use recyclable product packaging made from food-safe recycled plastic.

It will also send zero waste to landfills and strive for 100% renewable energy by 2025. 

The No. 1 consumer goods company has invested nearly $3 billion in the United States to beef up its manufacturing footprint and in-house capabilities, and currently operates 14 food and beverage factories across the country.

PepsiCo is providing free access to more than 100 education and upskilling programs through a new program that extends its Pep+ business strategy. Known as Myeducation, the program was developed in partnership with Guide Education and is available to more than 100,000 associates. Among the offerings include undergraduate degrees in business, operations and supply chain, data analytics, and technology, and PepsiCo will cover 100% of tuition costs, books, and fees.

Pep+ is centered around three pillars — Positive Agriculture, Positive Value Chain, and Positive choices — with initiatives intended to meet consumers’ increasing priority toward the planet and society.