International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day recognising the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It’s also a reminder of the work still needed to achieve true gender parity. At Atlante, this is not just a reflection for one day, it’s part of our story, from our beginnings as a company founded and led by a visionary woman, Natasha Linhart, to the reality we’re proud of today, collaborating with female-founded businesses and supporting women’s contribution across the food industry.
A Legacy of Female Leadership
In 1994, Natasha Linhart established Atlante after a personal experience that sparked a business idea. When searching for a dairy-free alternative milk for her lactose-intolerant son, she found the market lacking in quality options. Determined to find something better, she set out to source high-quality products herself (read more about the full origin story of Atlante here).
Under her guidance over the last 30 years, Atlante has expanded into a global company, sourcing and supplying products across continents, including the USA, China, and Japan. In 2024, the company reached a turnover of €270 million and now employs over 100 people, with lofty ambitions to continue this growth trajectory.
Our People: Building an Inclusive Future
At Atlante, we are firmly committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace, where different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences come together to drive innovation and growth. According to our latest ESG data, women make up 51% of our total workforce, and they play a key role at every level of the company — from operational teams to leadership positions across areas like Buying, Marketing and Human Resources.
This commitment to inclusion and gender equity translates into concrete actions, including annual salary reviews to monitor and reduce gender pay gaps, and the introduction of remote working policies. to support better work-life balance for all employees.
We are proud that so many of our teams are led by talented women whose leadership, vision and expertise help shape the future of Atlante every day. At the same time, we know that fostering a truly inclusive culture is an ongoing journey — one we are committed to pursuing with transparency, accountability and continuous improvement.
Supporting Women Beyond Our Business
Our commitment to recognising and supporting the role of women extends beyond our organisation and shapes the way we choose and build our external partnerships. A great example of this is our collaboration with Smash Foods, founded by Anna Peck in the USA, and now exclusively distributed in the UK by Atlante.
Anna started her journey in 2019, experimenting in her own kitchen to create a better alternative to traditional jams. Determined to offer something healthier, she refined her recipes until she had a fruit spread, packed with the goodness of chia seeds, that stood out from existing market options.
By working with businesses that share our values of quality, innovation and entrepreneurship, we actively support the growth of companies led by women, contributing to a more diverse and innovative food industry.
Celebrating Our People
According to data from the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity. While this highlights how much work is still ahead, it also reinforces the importance of the choices companies make every day.
At Atlante, we are proud to play our part in driving this progress, building on the foundations laid by our founder and strengthened by the women who continue to shape our company today.
On this International Women's Day, we honour the remarkable women who continue to drive Atlante’s success. As we continue to grow, we remain committed to fostering an environment where talent thrives, opportunities are open to all, and diversity and inclusion remain essential values — every day of the year.
