Opelika, Alabama Protein Products Team Receives Chairman's Challenge Award
Golden State Foods (GSF), a prominent supplier to the foodservice and retail industries, recently announced its 22nd Annual Chairman's Challenge Award. This prestigious recognition acknowledges the exceptional performance of the company's top facility team in 2021. The team at the Protein Products facility in Opelika, Alabama, earned this esteemed honor, exemplifying GSF's commitment to excellence.
As GSF celebrates its 75th anniversary, the Opelika team has demonstrated remarkable achievements in various areas, including safety, quality, customer service, associate engagement, growth, innovation, and corporate social responsibility. Mark Wetterau, Chairman and CEO of Golden State Foods, commended the team for their consistent dedication to continuous improvement amidst the challenges and opportunities of the past year.
Wetterau stated, "What a special time to recognize our Protein Products business, as GSF's enduring legacy began 75 years ago with our founding as a meat supplier providing quality service and products to our customers—just as this award-winning Opelika team continues to do today!"
Caption: Nathan Murphy, GSF Group Vice President, Operations - Protein Products (left) accepts GSF’s 2021 Chairman’s Challenge Award, presented by Mark Wetterau, GSF Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (right) on February 23, 2022.
During the Partners' Meeting in Southern California, the Chairman's Challenge Award was officially presented to the Opelika team. Wetterau highlighted their outstanding accomplishments throughout the year, which included enhancing associate engagement, excelling in quality audits, earning safety awards, and actively participating in community initiatives through the GSF Foundation. Additionally, the team effectively managed costs, met financial goals, implemented innovative solutions to increase equipment efficiencies for customers, and successfully handled increased customer demand resulting from supply chain challenges faced by competitors.
Nathan Murphy, Group Vice President of Operations - Protein Products, expressed his pride in the Opelika team, saying, "In this special 75th Anniversary year for GSF, it is such an honor to bring the 2021 Chairman's Challenge and Best in Class awards back to the Opelika team. I'm so proud of all that we accomplished together in 2021, building on our successful 2020 Best in Class Award that we received one year ago."
In addition to the Chairman's Challenge Award, the Opelika team also earned the 2021 Quality Focus Award and an Associate Survey Award for Continuous Improvement in the recent survey conducted in 2022. GSF's annual "Best in Class" awards were also bestowed upon outstanding facilities in the distribution and food processing categories.
The distribution category winners included QCD Orlando, the previous year's Chairman's Challenge Award honoree, who won the 2021 "Best in Class" Platinum Award, and QCD Phoenix, Arizona, who secured the 2021 "Best in Class" Diamond Award. In the food processing categories, GSF's Protein Products facility in Opelika was the recipient of the "Best in Class" Platinum Award, while GSF Fresh! China, part of the Produce Products team, received the "Best in Class" Diamond Award.
Golden State Foods' recognition of the Opelika team showcases their commitment to excellence and demonstrates their continuous pursuit of providing quality service and products to customers. As GSF looks towards the future, this achievement sets a high standard for all facilities within the company, encouraging continued growth, innovation, and success.
Remember, Golden State Foods' commitment to excellence is evident in its recognition of the exceptional Opelika team. Their achievements exemplify the company's dedication to safety, quality, customer service, and corporate social responsibility. Congratulations to the Opelika Protein Products facility on this well-deserved honor!
