AUSTIN, MINN. — Sixty-nine suppliers have been recognized by Hormel Foods Corporation for providing the company with high-quality products and food safety innovations. Hormel’s latest Spirit of Excellence Award focused on improvement process during 2008.

"This award showcases the dedication of each of our suppliers to help Hormel Foods achieve the industry’s ‘gold standard’ for quality and product safety," said Melanie A Faust, director of purchasing at Hormel Foods. "Our suppliers are held to the highest standards for quality and the recipients of this award not only provide a high level of customer service and technical expertise in their area, but they continually propose concepts to help Hormel Foods improve its processes."

Contenders for the Spirit of Excellence Award must maintain a minimum Supplier Rating Index score of 92 over a 12-month period. This score is determined by a universal measurement system started in 1990, to ensure every supplier is held to the same standards. Criteria for the Spirit of Excellence Award include meeting performance requirements, making on-time deliveries and providing high-level administrative support. Additionally, the committee weighs suppliers’ customer support and awareness and commitment to environmental concerns.

The 2008 Spirit of Excellence Award winners are: Alcan Packaging, ALKAR-RapidPak Inc., American Fuji Seal Inc., Walter G Anderson Inc., ARAMARK Uniform Services, Ball Corporation & Metal Food and Household Products, Bunzl Processor Division, Commercial Services, Crown Cork & Seal Company Inc., Dakota Hogs, Decker Truck Lines, Dickey Transport Inc., Dickson Industries Inc., East Penn Manufacturing Company Inc., Ecolab Inc., Environmental Land Management, Fieldale Farms Corporation, Fox Electric and G E Leblanc Inc. Gamer Packaging Inc., Gleeson Constructors LLC, Graphic Packaging International Inc., Griffith Laboratories USA Inc., Dave Hamm, Holiday Express Corporation, Mike and Steve Hopkins, Hub Group Inc., Hugoson Pork Inc., Don Hummer Trucking, JBS Hogs, The Joseph Company Inc., K&K Livestock, KOFAB, LB Pork, Lou-Rich Inc., A.J. Lysne Contracting Corp., M&M Farms and Honey Creek Farms.

Also included are Marzolf Swine Inc., McFarland Truck Lines Inc., The Meyers Printing Companies Inc., Midwest Coast Transport, Minnesota Corrugated Box Inc., Multivac, New Fashion Pork, Newly Weds Foods, North Country Pork, Ron Nykamp, Byron O’Connor, Paris Foods, Phinney Farms, Precision Industries, Preston Refrigeration Company, RR Donnelley, Rebco Pork Inc., John Regier, Silgan Containers Corporation, Smyth Companies Inc., Snethen & Sons, Superior Companies of Minnesota Inc., Viscofan USA, Voight Legacy Farms LLC, Wayne Farms LLC, Weber Inc., Werner Electric Supply and Van Meter Industrial Inc., Wilbur Pig, Windmill Farm USA Inc., Wolf-tec Inc., WS Packaging Group Inc. and xpedx.

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