Building Partnerships That Last: How Perfetti Van Melle’s EHS Director Strengthens Global Safety Through Collaboration
At the 2025 Benchmark Gensuite Customer Impact Conference, we spoke with Maite Garcia, Global EHS Director at Perfetti Van Melle, about her 15-year journey with Benchmark Gensuite — from early adoption to global implementation.
For Maite, the relationship goes beyond software. It’s about partnership, trust, and measurable results. She shared insights into how her team uses Benchmark Gensuite to track key EHS indicators and how the collaboration has evolved into a strong, people-focused alliance.
Key Takeaways
- Maite Garcia has used Benchmark Gensuite for over 15 years across multiple organisations.
- Perfetti Van Melle tracks both lagging (TRIR, DAWR) and leading indicators like action closure and framework score.
- Maite values Benchmark’s team for their competence, collaboration, and reliability — making the partnership feel like family.
- Benchmark Gensuite evolved from a vendor relationship to a true partnership built on mutual trust and responsiveness.
- The platform enables global consistency and confidence in tracking safety performance across Perfetti Van Melle’s operations.
Can you tell us about your role at Perfetti Van Melle?
Maite: I’ve been with Perfetti Van Melle for three and a half years as the Global EHS Director. My role is to oversee EHS performance across the company and ensure our systems and practices continue to improve.
You’ve been partnering with Benchmark Gensuite for quite some time now. What first drew you to the platform, and what’s kept the collaboration strong over the years?
Maite: Around 15 or 16 years now. Not just in my current role, but also in a previous company. I already knew the capabilities of the tool. When we went through due diligence and compared other providers, none of them matched what Benchmark Gensuite could offer. The platform’s capabilities and reliability were the main reasons.
Looking back on your experience, what aspects of Benchmark Gensuite have made the biggest difference for you and your team?
Maite: I really enjoy working with the Benchmark team. It feels like a family. That’s partly because of the long relationship, but also because of how supportive and competent the team is. It’s not just about friendly conversations, it’s about trust and confidence that the people behind the product can deliver.
I’ve worked with leaders like Mukund, and with team members like Dave and Callum. The relationships at every level have always been positive and collaborative, and that’s something I truly value.
What key performance indicators are currently guiding your organisation’s EHS strategy and goals?
Maite: We’re focusing more on leading indicators than lagging ones, though we still track both. Of course, we monitor total recordable injury rates and days away from work, but we also look closely at our framework scores and on-time action closure. Soon, we’ll add on-time closure of speak-up reports as well.
Would you describe your relationship with Benchmark Gensuite as more of a vendor connection or a true partnership?
Maite: Definitely a partner. At the beginning, it may have felt more like a vendor, but over time it’s become a partnership. We have a need, and Benchmark responds to it. We’ve never felt like they were trying to sell us something — in fact, I was the one who reached out to them first. That’s what partnership means to me.
About Perfetti Van Melle
Perfetti Van Melle is one of the world’s leading confectionery and gum manufacturers, known for brands like Mentos and Chupa Chups. With operations across more than 150 countries, the company focuses on innovation, quality, and a strong culture of safety and sustainability.
About Benchmark Gensuite
Benchmark Gensuite offers trusted, best-practice digital EHS & ESG software solutions used by over 3 million users worldwide. The platform helps organisations streamline safety, sustainability, and compliance management through innovation and partnership.
