‘I was looking for one candidate, but the quality of the candidates presented was so high that I hired two.’
Achtergrond
Dossche Mills has been a pioneer in grain processing for 150 years. They convert wheat into flour and flours for various markets such as artisanal bakers, industrial bakeries and the food ingredients industry.
With the largest mill in Europe and numerous acquisitions, the family-owned company is growing fast. And in that growth, there is one goal at the centre: sustainability.
Uitdaging
Nadine Claes, HR director at Dossche Mills, was looking for professionals to support growth and sustainability. Procurement talent was needed for this.
The open vacancy? A Category Manager indirect spend. But that ultimately turned out not to be the only position filled.
What you do yourself, you don’t necessarily do better
Nadine chose Stroom because of their specialisation in buying profiles. She is therefore clear about the perfect approach when you need to fill specialised vacancies:
‘I don’t believe in filling these kinds of positions directly through a job posting. That’s why I always work with a recruitment partner. Especially niche players like Stroom. They have built an extensive network and understand the profiles.’
A family business? That’s where the culture has to be a 100% match.
‘At Dossche Mills, there is a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Everyone here works as if it were their own business. That mentality has to match with the candidates,’ Nadine says.
Before starting the search for the perfect candidate, it is important to map out Dossche Mills’s culture. Therefore, we asked questions during the introductory interview. This made it clear which profiles match best and which do not.
One position, two amazing candidates
Within three weeks, Stroom presented three candidates. Not in a simple shortlist, but with a detailed explanation of why they’d fit with Dossche Mills.
After an initial screening by Nadine and follow-up interviews with the procurement officer, two of the three candidates turned out to be a perfect fit.
Nadine faced a luxury problem: two excellent candidates for one position. Fortunately, for every problem, there is a solution: one candidate was hired as Indirect Spend Purchaser. Dossche Mills sat back at the table with the other candidate.
After all, there was a vacant role as category manager sustainable wheat that could just be the perfect match.
Complex position, surprising candidate. Similarly, we placed a category Manager sustainable wheat
To frame the need for a sustainable buyer, we take you to the field. Indeed, within agriculture, the largest carbon emissions occur during wheat production. So if Dossche Mills wants to reduce its carbon footprint, they need to do it together with farmers.
They decided to put together a team focusing on sustainable farming practices to achieve the sustainable goals. They were looking for a sustainable buyer to work with farmers to reduce their carbon footprint. Coincidence struck that the person with the right mindset for this position was now unexpectedly sitting around the table with them.
With success. In addition to the role of Category Manager indirect spend, the role of Category Manager sustainable wheat was now filled. A complex position. But because the second candidate was a civil engineer with several years of purchasing experience at a major infrastructure player, we took the plunge.
A partnership as fair as wheat
Both sides knew what to expect from each other. And with success. Thanks to Stroom’s no-nonsense mentality and smooth communication, the process went smoothly.
‘Because Stroom was able to properly capture what we needed, I did not have to make adjustments. They understand our needs so the candidates fit this perfectly.’
Dossche Mills rises further
With the new acquisitions on board, Dossche Mills is running at full speed. The company is working hard on its sustainable growth. And for that, the door is always ajar for additional talent.
‘I also did not hesitate for a second when there was a new vacancy open within the procurement team. I immediately called Stroom.’
In addition, Stroom spontaneously suggests candidates, which Nadine really appreciates. Even without an open vacancy, she is happy to discuss possible matches.
Buying positions in sight
Are you also looking for a quality buyer? Together, we will ensure the perfect match and sustainable growth of your organisation. Schedule a no-obligation consultation.
