The Business

Established in 1976 and headquartered in Pennsylvania, Four Seasons Produce, Inc. is a full-service wholesale distributor specializing in organic, local, and conventional produce, along with a broad range of fresh category products. The company serves a diverse customer base across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, including natural food Stores, food co-ops, independent retailers, chain supermarkets, and other produce buyers.

Operating in a 24/7 supply chain environment, Four Seasons depends on clear communication, strong safety practices, and cohesive teamwork to consistently meet complex operational and customer demands. With a multilingual workforce, effective communication is critical to ensuring both productivity and workplace safety

The Challenge

Like many distribution centers, Four Seasons Produce employs a culturally and linguistically diverse workforce, with many team members speaking languages other than English. While this diversity enriches the workplace, it can also create communication barriers that impact efficiency, safety, and team cohesion.

To foster a culture of clear, inclusive, and transparent communication, the company recognized the need for a flexible, scalable solution that could be implemented in a fast-paced operational environment. The goal was to support all employees regardless of language proficiency in enhancing communication, collaboration, and workplace safety.

The Solution

Four Seasons Produce turned to Babbel for Business to close communication gaps through practical, adult-focused learning. The solution was chosen for its blended learning model, which combines self-paced, app-based lessons with optional live tutoring sessions, as well as the support of their Customer Success Manager.

The program focused on English and Spanish-speaking associates and managers, representing the largest demographic groups in the workforce. This targeted approach ensured that initial adoption addressed the most immediate communication opportunities.

Here’s what made it work:

• Workplace-Relevant Curriculum: Lessons were tailored to operational settings, emphasizing practical vocabulary and common workplace scenarios to improve real-time communication and safety.
• Blended Learning Approach: Associates accessed short, engaging lessons via the app and participated in live virtual tutoring sessions to reinforce skills and gain conversational practice.
• Flexible Learning Format: Self-paced learning enabled associates to engage during breaks or off-shift hours, minimizing operational disruptions.
• Dedicated Customer Success Manager: Babbel provided ongoing support through a Customer Success Manager, assisting with implementation, monitoring engagement, and optimizing program outcomes.
• Teamwide Engagement and Oversight: Supervisors leveraged progress dashboards to monitor individual and team progress, helping sustain momentum and celebrate learner achievements.

By implementing Babbel’s flexible, scalable language training program, Four Seasons Produce empowered its workforce to improve communication and laid the foundation for a safer, more inclusive workplace culture. 

The Results

Babbel for Business quickly evolved from a training tool into a strategic enabler of Four Seasons Produce’s operational excellence and inclusive workplace culture.

The impact of the initiative extended across productivity, employee morale, and team cohesion:

• Stronger Cross-Team Relationships: Participation from both frontline associates and managers in learning each other’s languages built mutual respect, strengthened collaboration, and reinforced a shared commitment to continuous improvement. 
• Improved Communication on the Warehouse Floor: Clearer day-to-day interactions led to fewer misunderstandings and smoother workflows, directly enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
• More confident, engaged employees: Associates began contributing more actively in meetings, demonstrating readiness for leadership roles and greater ownership of their work.
• A More Inclusive and Respectful Culture: Language diversity became a recognized strength, fostering a workplace where all voices felt heard and valued.

By integrating language learning into its workforce strategy, Four Seasons Produce bridged communication gaps and elevated team performance and organizational culture.