Frostbite Novelty in Toledo Earns Top Award in Dean Foods National Safety Competition

TOLEDO, Ohio, June 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- For its impressive performance in ensuring world class workplace safety, Dean Foods' Frostbite Novelty plant in Toledo, Ohio, was awarded the 2014 Dean Foods Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Award for ice cream. The award is the company's top honor and the plant was selected over Dean Foods' 8 other ice cream plants after a rigorous, one-year judging process.

Dean Foods CEO Gregg Tanner presented the award to Tom Jenkins, EHS Manager, Frostbite Novelty.

"At Dean Foods, we're committed to our employees and their safety, which is why this award is so important," said Tanner. "We're excited with the level of excellence in safety our Toledo employees have exemplified, and we're thrilled to recognize them for this achievement."

The Dean Foods CEO EHS Award is the culmination of an intensive assessment process. This year, three fluid milk plants, three logistics locations, and two ice cream plants, including the Toledo facility, received the Excellence in EHS Award. The awards are based on multiple criteria including: injury rates, workers compensation statistics, behavior-based safety elements like observation and coaching, internal audit scores and employee training. 

Next, these eight locations were scrutinized further by Dean Foods' senior leadership who took into account employee engagement, best practices and the 'safety culture' within the location. The Frostbite Novelty plant in Toledo emerged as the cream of the crop for the ice cream category.

"Safety is the priority here at Frostbite and we are committed to creating a culture that ensures everyone's safety both while at work and even while off work," said Jenkins. "This award is a symbol of that commitment and is the result of the hard work of all the employees of Frostbite."

About Dean FoodsDean Foods® is a leading food and beverage company in the United States and is the nation's largest processor and direct-to-store distributor of fluid milk. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the Dean Foods portfolio includes TruMoo®, the leading national flavored milk brand, and DairyPure®, the first and largest fresh white milk national brand, along with well-known regional dairy brands such as Alta Dena®, Berkeley Farms®, Country Fresh®, Dean's®, Garelick Farms®, LAND O LAKES® milk and cultured products*, Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms®, Mayfield®, McArthur®, Meadow Gold®, Oak Farms®, PET®**, T.G. Lee®, Tuscan® and more. In all, Dean Foods has more than 50 local and regional dairy brands and private labels. Dean Foods also makes and distributes ice cream, cultured products, juices, teas, and bottled water. Approximately 17,000 employees across the country work every day to make Dean Foods the most admired and trusted provider of wholesome, great-tasting dairy products at every occasion. For more information about Dean Foods and its brands, visit www.deanfoods.com.

*The LAND O LAKES brand is owned by Land O'Lakes, Inc. and is used by license.**PET is a trademark of The J.M. Smucker Company and is used by license.

CONTACT: Dustin Cox, 214-721-7766 or [email protected]

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SOURCE Dean Foods Company