Food Protection Trends - October 2012 - (Page 598)

BLACk PEARL AWARd WINNER The Kroger Co. Cincinnati, Ohio Retail Supermarket Divisions Our success in maintaining effective safe food-handling practices depends on store associate training and education. About 25,000 associates receive extensive sanitation and food safety training every year in our retail divisions. More than 3,000 of our store managers and co-managers also receive advanced training each year to become Certified Food Safety Managers through a nationally-recognized program. In addition, all supermarket perishable food department managers are required to take specialized food safety courses about proper storage, handling and preparation of perishable foods. Each store’s perishable food departments are audited by food safety professionals at least six times a year – for a total of nearly 15,000 third-party food safety audits in our supermarkets every year. We also conduct our own internal audits, and each retail division has a full-time Certified Food Safety Professional on staff to oversee operations. In 2011, Kroger’s Corporate Retail Operations team developed a comprehensive initiative to increase associates’ awareness of food safety – called Serve Up Safe Delicious Food. Our goal is to remind our retail store associates that they are responsible for following all sanitation and food safety best practices every day to keep food safe. This initiative includes multiple topics and touch points for associates working in our supermarkets. On February 20, 2012, we began rolling out Serve Up Safe Delicious Food by introducing the first of three core areas – Foods at Safe Temperatures (FAST). The FAST behaviors will help Kroger deliver world-class freshness in our stores through food safety and quality. The FAST training materials were piloted in 40 Kroger stores during 2011 and proved successful – with execution of food safety behaviors exceeding 95%. The remaining two core areas of Serve Up – Sanitation and Personal Hygiene – are in development and will be based on the latest science that supports processes to provide safe, quality foods to our customers. In 2008, Kroger launched a food rescue program as part of our ongoing commitment to relieving hunger in our communities. Through the Perishable Donations Partnership (PDP), our participating supermarkets donate safe and nutritious fresh meat, fruits and vegetables, dairy products and bakery items to local food banks. These items include excess inventory of fresh and prepared foods that can no longer be sold at retail and would otherwise be sent to a landfill, such as bakery breads and milk. F ood safety is Kroger’s top priority. We have well-established, science-based practices in place in all of our supermarkets, convenience stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers. Our food safety procedures are among the best in the country, and our team of more than 150 food safety professionals is constantly researching new ways to better ensure the safety of our food supply. Kroger is committed to being a leader in food safety and a retailer our customers count on for safe, fresh food every day. We meet or exceed the highest standards in all parts of our operations to make sure the food we make and carry in our supermarkets and convenience stores is safe. We focus on preventing the risk of foodborne illness and continuously improving food safety for our customers. Kroger touches the lives of millions of customers every day through our family of stores. As the largest traditional supermarket retailer in the U.S., Kroger’s 338,000 associates serve customers in more than 3,600 supermarkets, convenience and jewelry stores in 31 states. Kroger operates 2,439 supermarkets and multi-department stores under local retail banners, including Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Foods Co., Food4Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Hilander, Jay C, King Soopers, Kroger, Owen’s, Pay Less, QFC, Ralphs, Scott’s and Smith’s. The company also operates five convenience store divisions under the following banners: Loaf n’ Jug, Kwik Shop, Quik Stop, Tom Thumb and Turkey Hill Minit Markets. Today, Kroger has 796 convenience stores spanning 18 states. 598 FOOD PROTECTION TRENDS | OCTOBER 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - October 2012

Food Protection Trends - October 2012
Contents
Sustaining Members
From Your President
Commentary from the Executive Director
The CHEF Project
Characteristics of Food Contact Surface Materials
IAFP 2012 In Review
Award Winners
Black Pearl Award Winner
Ivan Parkin Lecture
John H. Silliker Lecture
Travel Award for State or Local Health or State Agricultural Department Employees
Student Travel Scholarships
Minutes of the 2012 Annual Business Meeting
Committee Minutes
Executive Board Response to Committee Recommendations
Silent Auction Results
Exhibitors of IAFP 2012
New Members
What’s Happening in Food Safety
Industry Products
Coming Events
Advertising Index
Journal of Food Protection Table of Contents
Membership Application

Food Protection Trends - October 2012