SMITHFIELD, VA. – Smithfield Foods Inc. released its ninth annual Corporate Social Responsibility (C.S.R.) Report, which highlights the company's progress in environmental performance, animal welfare, food safety, community relations and employees - key C.S.R. areas for the company and its stakeholders.

The Smithfield Foods 2009/10 Corporate Social Responsibility Report is available on the company's Web site at http://www.smithfieldfoods.com/responsibility/reports.aspx.

The 100-page report also includes a retrospective that will give readers a better understanding of where the company started, the challenges it has faced, and how far it has come on its C.S.R. journey, according to Smithfield. The content focuses primarily on calendar year 2009, but includes fiscal 2010 financial information and discussion of some key developments that occurred in early 2010. Smithfield's fiscal year runs from May through April.

The report also introduces Smithfield's strengthened C.S.R. governance and management structure, including a series of new goals and corresponding targets.

Goals include:

  • Reduce natural resource use (energy and water) and solid waste by 10% over fiscal 2008 numbers (normalized) by fiscal 2016.
  • Maintain 100% Pork Quality Assurance Plus Certification for its hog production facilities.
  • Provide the needy with 1 million servings of food per year and continue to enhance education in local communities.
  • Meet or beat the general manufacturing industry national average for injuries.
  • Obtain 100% Global Food Safety Initiative (G.F.S.I.) certification for all facilities.

Smithfield also announced it has two new sustainability committees – the Sustainability, Community and Public Affairs Committee composed of board members, and a corporate Sustainability Committee made up of top executives from throughout the company.

"C.S.R. is now deeply embedded in our company culture, from the executive suite and boardroom to the farms where our workers take care of our animals - and every level in between," said C. Larry Pope, president and chief executive officer. "Our company's future performance is intrinsically linked to our performance on sustainability issues. We are committed to transparency as we report on our progress and on our challenges."

"When I joined Smithfield Foods almost a decade ago, the company was aiming to improve its performance," said Dennis Treacy, senior vice president of corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer. "Over the years, we have transformed ourselves into a company that is leading our industry in many areas, including environmental performance, animal well-being and the health and safety of our employees. We understand that managing C.S.R. is integral to producing good business results and essential to maintaining good relationships with all our stakeholders."