SQFI Announces the 2015 SQFI Quality Achievement Award Winners

Sarah Malenich
Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI)
202-220-0660
smalenich@sqfi.com

SQFI Announces the 2015 SQFI Quality Achievement Award Winners

Arlington, VA– The Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI) recently announced the SQF Quality Achievement Awards at their 2015 International Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. These five awards recognize individuals and organizations that contribute to and improve the SQFI program’s global mission to provide a rigorous and credible food safety management system. Finalists in each category were honored and recognized during the conference.

“Producing safe food from farm to fork is a top priority for all food retailers and manufacturers,” said Robert Garfield, Senior Vice President of SQFI. “This year’s winners of our Quality Achievement Awards demonstrate how SQF Certification goes beyond a simple food safety audit to inspire a comprehensive food safety system with checks and balances along our global supply chain.”

SQFI Auditor of the Year
Awarded to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding performance as a credentialed SQF Auditor.
• Heena Patel – Technical Director, Supply Chain Food Safety Audit Services, SCS Global Services

SQFI Trainer of the Year
Awarded to a registered SQF Trainer who has contributed significantly to promoting the SQF
mission and supporting SQF stakeholders in implementing robust food safety and quality
practices.
• Jeffrey Strout – Technical Services Independent Trainer, Mérieux NutriSciences

SQFI Practitioner of the Year
This award is given to an SQF Practitioner or an Individual within an SQF Certified facility or company, who has demonstrated accomplishments in driving continuous growth and has taken their facility or company above and beyond the SQF Program.
• Cory Robertson – Quality Systems Coordinator, Redpath Sugar Ltd. (A member of ASR Group)

SQFI Manufacturer/Distributor/Primary Producer of the Year
Awarded to an SQF certified manufacturer, distributor, or primary producer who has shown a commitment to excellence through the SQF program.
• Publix Super Markets, Inc.

SQF Distinguished Service Award
This award is given to an individual who has freely shared his/her time and expertise throughout the industry in the areas of food safety.
• Bill McBride – Principal and Managing Director of Foodlink Management Services and SQFI Australia Representative

Congratulations again to all the winners! You have gone above-and-beyond portraying extraordinary understanding and commitment to global food safety and the SQF program!

SQF Quality Achievement Awards

The Safe Quality Food (SQF) program is recognized by retailers and foodservice providers around the world as a rigorous, credible food safety management system. It is the only certification system recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) that offers certificates for primary production, food manufacturing, distribution and agent/broker management. This enables suppliers to assure their customers that food has been produced, processed, prepared and handled according to the highest possible standards, at all levels of the supply chain. Additionally as a division of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), the SQF program incorporates continual retailer feedback about consumer concerns. This information is passed on to SQF certified suppliers, keeping them a step ahead of their competitors. www.sqfi.com