At the annual Employee Appreciation Dinner on December 9, 2011, Dave Lee, General Manager, reviewed the history of Rochester Meat Company and celebrated the company’s consistent growth over the past 40 years.

In March of 2011, Rochester Meat Company (RMC) achieved the Safe Quality Foods (SQF) 2000, Level 3 Certification with a rating of Excellent!

The SQF program, administered by the SQF Institute www.sqfi.com, is a leading, global food safety and quality certification and management system. It provides for independent certification that a company’s food safety and quality management system complies with international and domestic food safety regulations. SQF is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative www.mygfsi.com as a food safety and quality scheme, which has been successfully benchmarked against GFSI’s Guidance Document of food safety criteria.

There are three levels to the SQF program and each level indicates the state of a Supplier’s program development. RMC achieved the highest level: Level 3 – Comprehensive Food Safety and Quality Management System. The SQF certification assures RMC customers that products have been produced, processed, and handled according to the highest possible standards. RMC is determined to supply a wholesome, high quality, and consistent product to its customers.

We are pleased to announce that Rochester Meat Company received MNSHARP recertification! Our MNSHARP recertification was approved for August 1, 2010 to August 1, 2013. During this time period, the company is exempt from routine Minnesota OSHA inspections.

Through MNSHARP (Minnesota Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program), the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and Minnesota OSHA recognizes Minnesota employers who have achieved and maintained excellence in workplace safety and health. To maintain our MNSHARP status, the company must maintain injury and illness rates below the national average, and submit an annual evaluation of our safety and health program.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the MNSHARP audit and the employee interviews on May 4 and May 5, 2010. Also, thank you to everyone who worked hard to correct any hazards found.

Ron Tipton and Rochester Meat Company won awards at the Premier Culinary Creations Dinner held on June 15, 2011 during Premier’s Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition in Nashville, TN. Premier is a buying group that represents many of our customers who are hospitals, nursing homes, colleges, etc.

Rochester Meat Company won a Supplier award. The Company scored a 91 on Premier’s business review, which entails growth, quality and overall satisfaction. Only five suppliers received this award!

Ron Tipton was presented a Passion for Excellence award at the Dinner! Ron is the National Product Development Manager and has been with Rochester Meat Company for over 30 years! According to Ron, “This is truly for the whole company, not just myself”. Congratulations and thank you to Ron and everyone at Rochester Meat Company for your contributions to our success!

Shown in the Photo George Hechtel Sr., Director of Purchasing for Premier Ron Tipton, National Product Development Manager Bob Juerjens, Senior Director Program Development/ Foodservice for Premier