Powerful Employers in Romania: Safir Group

Safir group, that includes the companies Safir, Nutriva, Sagem and Safi-Star, stands as one of the most significant local employers. With an impressive workforce of 767 active employees, Safir group demonstrates its commitment to the development of the communities in Moldova.

Approximately 80% of the group’s employees come from Vaslui county, occupying various roles in its seven farms, three factories (dealing with semi-prepared and prepared products, combined feeds and protein flours), an abattoir, company-owned stores and supporting departments catering to these divisions.

George Safir, the CEO of the group, states: “Many of our employees have been with us for a long time – 15 years, 18 years, 20 years. The most tenured employee has been with us for 27 years. There are also many who celebrate more than 10 years of service with us. In the management department, 75% of the members have at least 10 years of experience in our organization and I believe this reflects the quality of work we have consistently delivered over time.”

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Massive Staff Hirings in 2023

Out of the total number of employees within the group, 692 hold executive positions, while 75 employees are in leadership roles. The distribution of employees within the group is as follows: Safir represents 74% of the total workforce, Nutriva (animal feed) 8%, Sagem (farms) 17% and Safi-Star 1%.

Safir group has 68 Asian employees, accounting for 8.8% of the total active workforce within the group. The company’s employee growth rate increased by 4% in 2022 compared to 2021, and in 2023 it rose by 20% compared to 2022, despite unstable economic and geopolitical conditions.

The geographical areas where Safir group has conducted extensive hiring are primarily in Vaslui county, which is home to 80% of the current employees. Additionally, more than 7% of the employees are based in Botoșani County, with approximately 2% in each of the counties of Iași, Bacău and Galați.

The average age across the entire group is 41 years.

Significant Contribution to Moldova’s Economic Development: Estimated Turnover of Over 79 Million Euros for 2023.

A recent study conducted by Romanian Business Leaders (RBL) and ING reveals that 341 companies in the Moldova region are recording a turnover of over 10 million euros. Achieving a turnover of over 10 million euros in the coming years is one of the key growth objectives for the selected companies in the ScaleOut 4×10 program initiated by RBL and ING, as referenced in the study mentioned here.

The study further highlights that the total turnover of the top 10 entrepreneurial companies in Vaslui County has increased by 15.8%. In total, only 26 entrepreneurial companies in Vaslui County have annual revenues exceeding 10 million euros.

The food industry, particularly the meat sector, dominates the hierarchy of the largest entrepreneurial companies in Vaslui county. Safir group plays a significant role in this context, both in terms of turnover – estimated at over 79 million euros for 2023 – and the impact it has on the community. By providing employment to nearly 800 individuals, the group contributes to the well-being of these families and the overall prosperity of the region.

Customized Benefits: a Positive Case Study in HR Management

An analysis of the benefits provided to the employees of Safir group alongside their salary packages reveals the company’s innovative approach to human resource management.

Within Safir group of companies, the benefits package is personalized based on employees’ departments and positions, with periodic evaluations of their professional performance.

In addition to the onboarding program for each position within the organization, the group offers professional development programs (soft skills and hard skills) conducted both internally by in-house specialists and externally by specialized external providers in various fields.

Furthermore, employees receive loyalty bonuses, meal vouchers, access to medical subscriptions at a clinic with a nationwide extended network and holiday vouchers. Depending on the distance from home to their workplace, employees have access to either employer-provided transportation or fuel reimbursement.

This year, Safir group will launch support programs for future workplace specialists, targeting young employees under 30 years old who are in their first job.

The company’s management has a young average age of 40 and a strong commitment to providing employees with international experience exchanges (e.g., attending fairs, conferences, visits to other factories in the industry from different countries). They also participate in various on-site events at their workplaces and the central headquarters, team-building activities involving visits to local tourist attractions, and health-themed screenings.

Strategic Partnerships with Regional Institutions and Schools

As part of the employee and talent development strategy in the region, Safir group of companies has established a series of strategic partnerships with various institutions in the region. The aim of the partnerships is to contribute to the support and well-being of the community, as well as to support and nurture young talents. This is because both brothers who jointly lead the business, along with the company’s board – George and Iulian Safir – believe in local talent, in the multiplication of good deeds and encourage “our path to quality” (which is also the company’s chosen slogan).

Strategic Partnerships:

• DGASPC (General Directorate for Social Assistance and Child Protection)

Through this collaboration, Safir group is actively involved in the social integration of young people from the system, providing them with jobs and accommodation, thus creating significant opportunities for their personal and professional development.

• High schools in Vaslui (Technical high school Ion Mincu and High school Ștefan Procopiu)

With a strong interest in education and recruitment, Safir group supports training sessions led by HR specialists from Safir’s human resources department, helping young people draft their CVs and guiding them for job interviews. At the same time, job openings within the group of companies are actively promoted.

• Regional Oncology Institute Iași – IRO

Cristina Butnariu, Deputy General Manager: “We are also focused on keeping our employees healthy. In 2022, alongside IRO, we initiated a screening program for cervical cancer and HPV, providing female employees within Safir group with access to essential preventive health services.”

• “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, and “St. Spiridon” Clinical Emergency Hospital in Iasi, in collaboration with the Vaslui Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture

Cristina Butnariu, Deputy General Director: “As part of our ongoing commitment to health, we launched a hepatitis screening campaign this year, targeting all employees of Safir group. The purpose of this initiative is to prevent and early detect this serious condition.”

• USAMV Iași

To support education and recruitment, Safir group offers internships for students from the USAMV Iași, thereby contributing to the development of future talents.

Familia Safir is a family-owned business with an entrepreneurial tradition dating back to 1945, built around the concept of doing good deeds. The business has been continuously developing for seven decades, spanning four generations, and has had a significant impact in the Moldova region, taking care of the community it resides in.

Safir group consists of four companies, seven farms (with a total of 88 poultry grower houses) and 767 employees, with its headquarters located in Vaslui. The group has its own meat processing facilities, including an abattoir, a factory for poultry meat products and craft semi-processed products using 100% natural spices, its own feed production, concentrates, extruded cereals and full-fat soybean production. Additionally, it operates a protein flour factory and maintains its own fleet of vehicles for nationwide distribution.

Of the four companies within the Safir group, Sagem is responsible for poultry farming and manages the farms. More than 10 million euros have been invested in Sagem to date. The two farms in Botoșani, dedicated to the slow-growing poultry, are IKB certified and hold the only animal welfare certificate in Romania, the Beter Leven 1*.

Familia Safir brand has three main product categories available to the end consumer: Deliciosul de Vaslui, Zdravăn Moldovenesc and Răsfăț Românesc.