DCI Cheese Company: Awarded for food safety accomplishment

Contact: Kristy Klug

262.677.6950

kklug@dcicheeseco.com

RICHFIELD, Wis. – DCI Cheese Company (DCI) today announces that the organization’s Santa Rosa facility has been recognized for meeting or exceeding the standards of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), as defined by GFSI’s official benchmarking procedure. GFSI is widely considered to be the “gold standard” for international food safety. With a company-wide commitment to surpass the standards set by the GFSI, DCI is on the leading edge of advanced food safety practices.

The GFSI is a non-profit benchmarking organization that seeks to continuously improve food production and manufacture systems to ensure the global supply chain is safe for consumers. The organization is comprised of the world’s leading food safety experts and serves nearly 400 members in over 150 countries. GFSI’s benchmarking procedure is executed in an impartial and transparent manner. Its benchmarking criteria meet internationally recognized food safety requirements and are accepted by many international and regional/national retailers and suppliers.

In meeting GFSI’s stringent requirements, DCI is recognized for embracing the standards of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and other highly respected national and international standards organizations that fall under the GFSI umbrella.

“In today’s world of global food production and distribution, assuring the safety of our food supply has never been more important,” states Tim Omer, President of DCI Cheese Company. “Our dedication to food safety and quality assurance runs deep. Throughout our company we have invested heavily in the systems, processes and human resources necessary for attaining a level of food safety that, in most cases, far surpasses the requirements of federal, state and international standards.”

In addition to meeting or exceeding the GFSI’s standards, DCI is also fully committed to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) mandate to manage food safety from “farm-to-table”. Dedicated to a philosophy of continuous improvement, the company has implemented exhaustive quality-assurance measures including formal programs for Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) and elevated standards for Food Safety Systems audits.

About DCI Cheese Company

An innovative leader in the cheese industry since 1975, Richfield, Wisconsin-based DCI Cheese Company is the largest importer, manufacturer and marketer of specialty cheeses and other restaurant-quality prepared foods in the United States. The company offers an impressive portfolio of fully-owned or exclusively-held imported and domestic specialty cheese brands including Black Diamond®, Goldy’s®, Joan of Arc®, King’s Choice®, Meza®, Nikos®, Organic Creamery® and Salemville®, among others. DCI’s value-added products can be found in restaurants, grocery stores, club stores and specialty shops across the country. DCI’s mission is to be the leading solution-based provider in the cheese industry and actively seeks strategic partnerships to expand their manufacturing, branding, sales, marketing and distribution. For more information on DCI Cheese Company and their portfolio of specialty cheese and prepared food brands, visit http://www.dcicheeseco.com.