When Lalji Paghadal joined the Belleville team as Plant Manager this June, he brought with him 15 years of manufacturing experience, a servant-leadership mindset and a deep belief that great operations are built on great people.
For Lalji, the appeal went beyond the role itself — it was the Redpath name, its long history and the place it holds in Canadian kitchens.
“I was proud to join Redpath because it is not just a company name to me,” Lalji said. “It is a brand with a rich history, and a product used by millions of people, including me and my family. When you work for a brand that has been part of so many homes for generations, it gives you a different sense of pride and responsibility.”
The Belleville Plant specializes in dry blend mixing. Lalji leads a team of roughly 170 employees, with four managers as his direct reports. He centers his days on four priorities: safety, quality, cost and delivery.
Safety, though, sits at the very top. “My fundamental for safety is that our employees not only go home without getting hurt, but come back with a smile on their face,” he said.
Though Lalji is a mechanical engineer by training, he found his true strength and interest in people. His leadership style is rooted in servant leadership: listen first, then lead second.
“When you build your people, people build your business,” he said. “I always strive to listen first, resolve problems, motivate team members and remove roadblocks for them.”
To bring his team together, Lalji stays visible on the floor and ensures he listens to his team. Lalji is also expanding the Belleville Plant’s employee recognition programs to celebrate both frontline and management contributions. His blend of plant experience and people development stood out well before he arrived on site.
“Lalji stood out because of his unique combination of operational expertise, leadership experience and continuous improvement mindset,” said Victor Pacheco, Vice President, Non-Refinery Operations. “He has built an impressive career leading complex manufacturing operations across several world-class organizations, with a strong track record in safety, quality, productivity and people development. He demonstrated a genuine passion for developing teams, creating accountability and driving sustainable results, which aligned very well with what we were looking for in a Plant Manager for Belleville.”
Lalji grew up in Gujarat, India, in a joint family of 43 members, including his father and six brothers, all living under one roof. That upbringing shaped his first core principles. “It taught me teamwork and clear communication,” he said. “That shaped my foundation for leadership.”
After earning his diploma in mechanical engineering design technology, Lalji began his career as a general laborer and worked his way up through plant leadership roles. Over 15 years, he gained experience across various industries, including cosmetics, medical device manufacturing, home décor, food and consumer goods manufacturing, with companies including Estée Lauder and Unilever.
Just prior to joining ASR Group, Lalji served as an Operations Manager for a global snack and food company, leading 450 employees, 16 supervisors and four line managers.
Looking ahead, he wants to bring more volume to the plant so the team can create more jobs, bring continuous improvement to the next level and help the culture of purpose and pride at Belleville keep growing. With his blend of technical expertise and people-first leadership, his story at Belleville is just beginning.