Print Page Close Window News Release Hormel Foods Honors Suppliers with Spirit of Excellence Awards AUSTIN, Minn., Apr 14, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) recently awarded 65 suppliers with a 2010 Spirit of Excellence Award for their roles in the company's continuous improvement process throughout the past year. These suppliers are from a variety of areas including contractors, pork procurement, provisions, ingredients, packaging and transportation. "The Spirit of Excellence Awards recognize business partners that go above and beyond, making a positive impact on our business," said Melanie A. Faust, director of purchasing at Hormel Foods. "It's an honor to present these awards as a way to show our appreciation to these outstanding suppliers." Suppliers that qualified for the Spirit of Excellence Award maintained a minimum supplier rating index score of 92 throughout a 12-month period. This score is determined by a universal measurement system that began in 1990 to ensure each supplier is held to the same standards. Award criteria include meeting performance requirements, making on-time deliveries and providing high-level customer support. In addition to the Spirit of Excellence Award, suppliers compete for the Hormel No. 1 Award every five years. This spring, the company will announce the Hormel No. 1 Award recipients. The award honors suppliers that have provided long-term, consistent, superior performance during the five-year period from 2006 to 2010. One of the criteria for the award requires recipients to have received a Spirit of Excellence Award during four out of five years. A special event will be held this summer to honor the Hormel No. 1 Award recipients. Contractors A.J. Lysne Contracting Corporation East Penn Manufacturing Environmental Land Management, LLC Fehr Solutions, LLC Fox Electric G E LeBlanc, Inc. Gleeson Constructors, Inc. Hyster Company The Joseph Company, Inc. Kestner Electric, Inc. Kofab Lou Rich, Inc. Multivac, Inc. Rockwell Automation Superior Companies of Minnesota, Inc. Weber, Inc. Werner Electric Supply and Van Meter Industrial, Inc. Wolf-Tec, Inc. Pork procurement Blue River Pork David Reuter Donald Gildner John Regier Ken Winsel Marzolf Swine Inc. New Fashion Pork Paris Foods Ron Nykamp Provisions Fieldale Farms Corporation Purchasing Airlite Plastics Co. American Fuji Seal, Inc. Aramark Uniform Services Ball Metal Food & Household Products Packaging Bunzl Processor Division Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. Curwood, Inc. Dickson Industries, Inc. Ecolab, Inc. Fastenal Company Gamer Packaging Inc. Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Hydrite Chemical Co. Ideal Kalle USA, Inc. Menasha Packaging Co. LLC The Meyers Printing Companies, Inc. Minnesota Corrugated Box, Inc. Morton Salt, Inc. Newly Weds Foods Progressive Packaging, Inc. Red Arrow Products Co. LLC RR Donnelley Sealed Air Corporation Cryovac Division - Bags & Film Sensient Technologies Corporation Silgan Containers Smyth Companies, Inc. Viscofan USA Walter G. Anderson Inc. xpedx Transportation Commercial Services Decker Truck Line, Inc. Dickey Transport, Inc. Holiday Express Corporation McFarland Truck Lines, Inc. Midwest Coast Transport Wenger Truck Line, Inc. About Hormel Foods Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring branded, value-added products to the global marketplace. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, Maplecroft Climate Innovation Indexes, Global 1000 Sustainable Performance Leaders and was named one of "The 100 Most Trustworthy Companies" by Forbes in 2010. The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers, foodservice and industrial customers for products highly regarded for quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value. For more information, visit http://www.hormelfoods.com. SOURCE: Hormel Foods Corporation Hormel Foods Corporation Julie Craven 507­437­5355.