Refrigeratedtransporter 1237 Meadow Gold Dairy Wins Prize

Dean Foods recognizes Hawaii Hilo dairy plant

April 25, 2014

For its excellence in protecting quality from farm to table and in customer service, Meadow Gold Dairies Hawaii Hilo plant was awarded the Dean Foods CEO Quality Award for fluid milk.

For its excellence in protecting quality from farm to table and in customer service, Meadow Gold Dairies Hawaii Hilo plant was awarded the Dean Foods CEO Quality Award for fluid milk. This award is the company’s top honor, and Meadow Gold Dairies Hawaii Hilo was selected over Dean Foods’ 70 other dairy plants after a rigorous, one-year judging process. Gregg Tanner, chief executive officer of Dean Foods, presented the award to Mel Moniz, plant operations manager of the Meadow Gold Dairies Hawaii Hilo plant, recently. Tanner was joined by Hilo Mayor Billy Kenoi in acknowledging Meadow Gold’s excellence. “Dean Foods holds its plants to incredibly high standards, making for particularly stiff competition surrounding this award,” said Tanner. “We are delighted with the level of excellence Meadow Gold Dairies Hawaii exemplifies, and we’re proud to hold them up as an example.”

This top honor is the culmination of an intensive assessment process. Three ice cream plants and five fluid milk plants, including Meadow Gold Dairies Hawaii Hilo, were selected as Excellence in Quality Award winners based on multiple criteria such as Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program scores, training participation, and consumer complaint improvement. These eight plants were then scrutinized further by Dean Foods’ senior leaders, who took into account quality innovations, best practices, and the “quality culture” within the plant. The Meadow Gold Dairies Hawaii Hilo emerged as the leader in the fluid milk category. “Our team is committed to providing everyone on the Big Island and throughout Hawaii with wholesome, great-tasting dairy products every day,” said Moniz. “Superior quality has always been a top priority for Meadow Gold Dairies Hawaii, which is why we are so honored to be recognized as Dean Foods’ top fluid milk plant.” Meadow Gold Dairies Hawaii has been providing wholesome, nutritious, and delicious food and beverages to Hawaii since 1897 when seven Oahu dairy farms formed a cooperative to create a stronger presence in the marketplace. Go to www.deanfoods.com for more information.