AB Vassilopoulos has been named Wellbeing Champion of the Year and has also received two Gold awards and one Bronze award at the Health & Safety Awards 2026. From burnout prevention and stress management initiatives to inclusion programs, psychological safety, and workplace safety training, these efforts form a cohesive framework of care centered on employee wellbeing.
AB Vassilopoulos: A focus on mental health
Preventing workplace stress and professional burnout is a consistent priority for AB. Through awareness and training initiatives, as well as direct support services, AB equips its people with tools that address diverse needs and working conditions.
As part of this approach, more than 1,100 employees participated in webinars covering topics such as burnout, stress management, mental resilience, and work-life balance. At the same time, the e-learning course “The road to psychological safety,” designed for both managers and individual contributors, was successfully completed by over 9,800 employees, fostering a shared culture of trust and open communication.
Through the Employee Assistance Programme, AB’s people also have access to Psychological & Counseling Support Lines and Nutritional Counseling services, which have collectively received more than 6,000 calls from employees across stores, distribution centers, and headquarters. Support is provided with complete anonymity and confidentiality, while in cases of traumatic events, a specialized Crisis Intervention service is activated, offering 24-hour support.
This comprehensive approach earned a Gold award in the category “Burnout prevention and stress management policies,” for the initiative “Mental Health Support in Action: Burnout Prevention and Stress Management at AB.”
Inclusion
For AB, inclusion is not a standalone initiative — it is an integral part of the company’s everyday culture. Through a continuously evolving program of activities, AB strives to create a workplace where everyone feels they belong, are heard, and can express themselves and grow in a safe environment.
The initiatives span a wide range of topics: from Diversity & Pride Months, with more than 750 participants in related webinars, to awareness and prevention campaigns on breast and prostate cancer, events for International Women’s Day, outreach around Cystic Fibrosis, and programs that strengthen psychological safety.
More than 170 AB employees took part in the Race for the Cure, while over 250 people attended the International Women’s Day event. At the same time, educational and awareness activities are designed to be accessible to employees regardless of their location or shift, promoting equal participation and access to knowledge.
These efforts are part of the initiative “Building a Culture of Inclusion, Equality, and Psychological Safety at AB Vassilopoulos,” which received a Gold award in the category “Training & Awareness for Inclusion.”
Safety as an everyday practice
Health and Safety remain a steadfast priority for AB. The Health & Safety Week, now in its 7th consecutive year, draws on real operational data from the company and translates it into targeted training and prevention actions.
Centered on the core message “Safety starts with us!”, the campaign included a hybrid event attended by 300 employees, training videos featuring real workplace scenarios, more than 12,000 magnets carrying key prevention messages distributed across stores and distribution centers, and an updated e-learning module on safe working practices in stores — achieving a 100% completion rate.
This safety-first culture is also reflected in the perceptions of AB’s own people: in the most recent Employee Engagement Survey, in which 95% of employees participated, 82% stated that they perceive AB as a safe working environment. The “Safety starts with us!” campaign received a Bronze award in the category “Internal Communication & Awareness Campaigns.”
The distinctions at the Health & Safety Awards 2026 confirm the consistency with which AB Vassilopoulos invests in its people. With initiatives that continuously evolve and respond to the real needs of its employees, the company continues to cultivate a culture of care, respect, and prevention — always keeping the wellbeing and safety of every employee at the forefront. AB Vassilopoulos: always going above and beyond.
