Ribella: Hygienic workwear tailored for the food industry

Quick summary:

Ribella, based in Serbia, is a leading name in the healthy food market, best known for its hummus and other chickpea-based spreads. The company has earned international recognition, exporting its products to 21 European countries.

This success did not happen by chance. Ribella is dedicated to exceptional quality and continuous innovation, while maintaining the strict hygiene standards required in the food industry. Its products are vegan or vegetarian, free from artificial colours, flavours and gluten, which places even greater emphasis on the hygiene of both processes and clothing.

And that’s where the story of our partnership begins.

Growing demand, growing challenges

“Before we began working with Lindström, we handled our workwear maintenance internally,” explains Nataša Petrić, Production Director at Ribella.
“At that time, production was relatively small, running in a single shift, so the number of employees – and the amount of clothing – was manageable. Our laundry capacity met those needs.”

However, as Ribella’s hummus production expanded year on year, the company needed more staff and, consequently, far more workwear. “We soon realised that our laundry capacity had become too small,” says Nataša.

To ensure the best working conditions for its employees and maintain a high level of production safety, Ribella decided to partner with Lindström, and our comprehensive workwear service.

As production grew, our internal laundry became insufficient, and we needed to find another, more sustainable solution.

Nataša Petrić, Production Director, Ribella

Why Ribella chose a professional workwear service

“We could have gone in one of two directions,” explains Nataša. “Either increase our washing capacity by purchasing more machines, or turn to outsourcing – which initially didn’t seem like an option. Then the Lindström team got in touch to discuss a possible collaboration, and we realised there was another way to solve our problem.”

Ribella operates in accordance with IFS and BRC standards and applies the HACCP system, all of which explicitly regulate the maintenance of workwear. Outsourcing the service to a professional provider proved to be a practical and cost-effective alternative to further investment in in-house equipment.

“Because Lindström uses industrial laundering, we are confident in the quality and trust the service completely – we don’t have to worry about potential consequences,” says Nataša.
This approach reduces operational risk and allows Ribella’s teams to focus on what they do best: producing consistent, safe and innovative products.

Hygienically designed uniforms and sustainability in practice

The uniforms are designed specifically for the production of plant-based spreads – ergonomic, functional and compliant with food industry hygiene protocols.

Optimised washing and maintenance cycles support Ribella’s environmental goals through controlled consumption of water, energy and detergents. Textiles last longer thanks to professional repairs and timely replacement of damaged parts. Sustainable delivery logistics further minimise downtime, ensuring every shift starts with enough clean, hygienic garments.

Results: Compliance, efficiency and satisfied teams

“We have implemented two food safety standards – IFS and BRC – which both include requirements for maintaining workwear,” says Nataša.
“Because Lindström uses industrial laundering, we are confident in the quality. We don’t have to think about possible consequences – we trust this service.”

A standardised maintenance process, easily monitored through the eLindström portal, simplifies preparation for IFS/BRC audits. Transparent documentation and hygiene measurements are always available when needed. Employees have a steady supply of appropriate clothing, increasing production reliability and reducing interruptions.

Using Lindström’s service has made our operations more efficient – one less thing to worry about in our daily work. It has also reduced our operating costs, especially for the procurement team, which no longer needs to source extra equipment or detergents.
Maintenance of our old machines was another issue, and this service has significantly reduced that burden. Employee satisfaction has also improved because they always have enough suitable clothing available.

Nataša Petrić, Production Director, Ribella

Conclusion

Ribella and Lindström have built a successful partnership founded on hygienic workwear – a crucial factor in the food industry.

As a leader in the rental, laundering and maintenance of work uniforms, Lindström has helped Ribella enhance its production process through high-quality workwear, environmentally responsible practices and reliable support.

This collaboration allows Ribella to focus on its core mission – producing premium food products – while Lindström takes care of their employees’ workwear needs.

We could have gone in one of two directions: expand our own laundry capacity, or choose outsourcing – which we hadn’t considered until Lindström approached us. That’s when we realised there was another way to solve our problem.

Nataša Petrić, Production Director, Ribella

Customer dedication

Customer experience is at the heart of everything we do. We take pride in our long-lasting relationships with our customers, some of which have endured for decades.

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