Flash from the Past! The last couple of months have been extremely busy and productive. All of our facilities have been putting their best efforts into getting their projects done before fresh pack starts. More and more employees are becoming involved participants in our lean manufacturing process. We have many experiments going on at all three manufacturing plants, focusing on paste yield and paste usage, batching, equipment testing, and push versus pull systems. In the next few weeks, business leaders and managers will be taking “Gemba Walks” throughout the company to see the progress made with these experiments and to hear what employees have learned about their processes. The Distribution Center has been very busy with their shipping volume exceeding last year. By continuously focusing on lead distribution methods, they continue to increase the percentage of customer orders that use the “pick and load” method, which reduces the number of “touches” or product movements. This increase in loading efficiency results in savings of propane, fork truck usage and man hours. The DC prides itself on customer service and a 99.6% accuracy on order fill rate ensures that our customer’s orders are right the first time. Safety awareness has also been of key importance at all of our facilities with programs like STOP and Safety Bingo. The DC exceeded 860 days without a Lost Time accident… Outstanding! As Fresh Pack continues to draw nearer, preparation is the key to our success. All of our facilities are preparing, planning, and getting ready for once again, “our best fresh pack season yet”. Warehousing has already brought in 100 more truck loads of empty cans versus last year, which accounts for a 24% increase in pre-stocking! We’ve certainly had our share of April rains. Fortunately, we missed all the flooding and tornadoes that our southern neighbors received. Our Red Gold growers in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan were the first to get started planting on May 5. While they are starting on time, our Central Indiana and Ohio growers are still on hold due to the weather, but should start within a week, providing the rain lets up. Our southern growers have received the most rain and are over a week behind schedule. They will definitely need ideal growing conditions to catch up. 2011 looks to be one of the most promising years to date. I am very proud of the hard work and dedication all of you put in this past winter, especially when you are using lean manufacturing methods to achieve your goals! The Red Gold picnic has been a great family tradition for well over 20 years. The first picnic was held at Callaway Park, but on a much smaller scale. The Reichart family cooked enough hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill to smoke up the park, and the guests brought all types of great homemade dishes. Many even competed in a dessert contest, showing up with beautiful cakes, pies and cookies. The big event for those attending the picnic was the yearly softball game between the facilities. The teams could be Elwood vs. Orestes, or Geneva. Vs. RGT, and the winner would take home a traveling trophy, only to give it up the following summer to the new winner. Last place received a cement cow. The hamburgers didn’t hit the grill until a winner had been declared and the last pitch had been thrown. For the children who attended, the picnic began having carnival games in the early 1990’s. Such as hoola-hoop ring toss, puttputt and a duck pond game. The duck pond consisted of a plastic baby pool, filled with water, and plastic yellow ducks floating on top. The children could pick a duck, and win a prize. The Reichart grandchildren would man the games and hand out the prizes to the game winners; small trinkets like toy rings, matchbox cars, bottles of bubbles, and very cool army men with parachutes. Other events included the Red Gold Olympics, with relay races and watermelon eating relay. You would start at point A, run to point B, quickly eat a slice of watermelon, and return to the start, tag your teammate and off they went. Richard Shepard, RGT, ate the watermelon so fast the seeds were flying in the air around him. One of the races consisted of contestants opening a lawn chair, and then opening an umbrella, eating a cracker, whistling, and then running back to the start. Beth Wilson, RG Engineering, was extremely talented at this! You had to be fast and coordinated in order to get back to the start and tag the next person on your team. Those early picnics bring back a lot of memories of just being able to relax and converse with friends and family, feast on delicious food and plan on strategies for the next year’s softball game. In the beginning, the picnic started with 50-75 people... Fast forward…to the present and we have over a thousand people attend! Some things may have changed since the picnics of the past, but the great food can’t be beat… delicious BBQ and heaping spoonfuls of baked beans brought to you by Shoups Catering. It’s almost time for the 2011 Red Gold Picnic! There will be new attractions, as well as the popular ones, such as the kid’s games, horseback rides and a rock wall. Don’t miss the animal show, balloon artists, vendor tent and much more. June 12, 2011 Red Gold Family Picnic! 11am to 2pm Callaway Park, Elwood, IN KETCHUP KORNER This is a place where you can catch up (Get it?) on news, fun facts, and items of interest about our products, people, and activities. With spring in full swing, and summer fast approaching, it is growing season for our tomatoes! It takes several steps to get from seed to the tomatoes that come into our factories. 1. Seeds are tested for purity and diseases and shipped to us 2. They get a “coating” applied to make them easier to handle 3. They are shipped to individual greenhouses for seeding into trays 4. Then they grow in greenhouses for around five weeks to a height of 4.5 to 5.5” tall 5. After that they are shipped to the grower on a set planting schedule to stagger the flow of tomatoes into the factory during pack 6. While in the field, they are grown and cared for through the growing season and monitored by Ag staff every seven to ten days 7. When the time comes, they are harvested by the grower and scheduled with our Ag Department to get the right tomatoes to the right factory based on location and quality 8. Finally they are shipped to our factories for processing! Did you know? •Red Gold typically grows eight varieties of tomato plants for harvest •In a tomato field there are 11,000 plants per acre on average Quarterly Definitions Transplant – in reference to tomato plants, these are seedlings, plants grown from a seed in a nursery, which are given to our growers to be planted in the ground anner Manner s Hairnet Etiquette s th th wi wi Do’s St •Hairnets are to be worn in our production e facilities at all times in w the designated areas ie •Hairnets should cover the entire head and all of your hair •They should be pulled down over your ears and bangs •And yes, if your nickname is Chrome Dome or Cue-ball or you look like Kojack or Mr Clean you still need to wear a hairnet (that includes you Eddie Wood) Don’ts •Tie knots in your hairnet •Hairnets are not considered appropriate clothing material Sometimes seasonal or year round employees need to be reminded about how to wear hairnets. If you see anyone wearing their hairnet incorrectly, politely tell or show them the “correct way” and a “have a nice day” UPCOMING EVENTS Employee Holiday Memorial Day Check with Your Facility HR for Specifics Health Assessments Health assessments in June 2011 qualifies employees for $5/week discount on medical insurance premiums for 2012 Corporate June 6 Orestes June 7 Elwood & RGT June 8, 9, 16 DC June 15 Geneva June 6, 8, 9 Red Gold Golf Outing Cattails Golf Course June 11 Company Picnic June 12 Employee Holiday Independence Day Check with Your Facility HR for Specifics Madison County Fair July 18 – 24 Adams County Fair July 17 – 21 Jay County Fair July 25 – 30 Indiana State Fair August 5 - 21 Elwood Glass Festival August 19 - 21 A Day in the Life of the RedGold’s Product Marketing Manager Have you ever stopped to consider where we get the ideas for Red Gold’s new products? Beyond all the various types of packaging and pack sizes, how do we decide what to put in the jar? Many of Red Gold’s products are designed to be a National Brand match, but not all. Deciding how to come out with a new flavor in any of our various product types can tricky. How tricky? Maybe Dewey Angell, Red Gold’s Product Marketing Manager, can help explain… How long have you been with Red Gold? 14 months – I Left Kimberly Clark in Wisconsin as a Brand Manager for Kleenex Brand Tissue to work for Red Gold. Have you always worked within the food industry? Yes and No. I have been marketing CPG, and drug products for 19 years that have been sold in all retail classes of trade like grocery (food), drug, dollar and mass retail channels. During my career, I have worked as a product and brand management for Western Family Foods, Perrigo (world largest generic drug manufacture) and Kimberly Clark. Did your position exist at Red Gold prior to you joining the Red Gold Team? No – I was brought in to Red Gold with the idea that we needed a marketing and business manager that provided direction on products sold under both our Red Gold brands and private brands. What does a Product Marketing Manager do? Marketing is a product or service focused process for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, consumers, and society at large. Therefore, my job requires me to become a product marketing expert for Red Gold. Knowledge is needed within the four marketing fundamentals that allow any product to sell well. Obtaining this knowledge comes from understanding category growth trends (what is selling, what is not selling); what product sizes COMPLIMENT are most popular and why; what flavors are popular now and emerging; the consumer demographic and psychographic profile. What kind of tools do you most often use? Dewey Angell • Red Gold’s graphic design resources to design and create advertising material and product labels • Shopper data that Red Gold purchases from national databases that collect sales data on products and consumers • Analytical tools such as spreadsheets to analyze dollar sales, case sales, promotional and financial metrics • Internet to research competing products and suppliers • Databases that collect data on consumer opinion of products, brands, flavors and trends What is the favorite part of your job? Being a problem solver, which usually centers on “how can we sell more high quality products, at a lower cost, to more people then any other tomato products manufacturer?” This involves working diligently on becoming educated on products and categories, taking the new knowledge, turning it in to sales-motivated insights that help our brands and customer sell more products. Marketing is all about using insights, innovation, creativity and solid business rationale to find solutions to increasing our sales by competing more effectively with competition. I wake up in the morning energized to find ways to move my priority initiative forward. What’s your favorite Red Gold product that you’ve tried so far? Red Gold’s New 10z Diced Tomatoes with Chipotle peppers – it makes the best Queso dip! I wanted to take the time to let you know you have made a loyal consumer out of me. I once ONLY purchased Rotel. I cooked with it about 3 times a week. Well, I was having trouble printing one of your coupons online and someone from your company personally printed it out and mailed it to me. I missed the sale & opportunity to try the produce. Then today I received the Red Gold apron so I tried the product. THANK YOU! The quality & taste of the product is comparable to Rotel but much less in cost. No more Rotel for me, Red Gold it is! Thank you again to your staff & company. RED GOLD ALL STARS Red Gold Label Department What We Do: •Barb Stanley and Susan Dewitt handle new label developments, existing label changes and maintain the Kosher Orthodox Union files. They also manage other various projects, including can and jar changes, which require label size adjustments. •Michelle Wells and Tina Shirey order labels, run inventory reports, and handle various projects pertaining to inventories and costs. They locate lost labels, and also track the RG truck that picks up labels at Fort Dearborn. Did You Know? • In 2010, Red Gold purchased over 1 billion labels from 17 different suppliers. This equates to over 5,000,000 pounds of paper labels and over 80,000 pounds of ink. Barb Stanley Susan Dewitt Michelle Wells Tina Shirey • If you laid the 1 billion labels end to end they would stretch 136,800 miles, which would wrap around the earth nearly 5 ½ times • Red Gold largest volume label item is 28 oz Tuttorosso New World Green Crushed w/ Basil • From our main label supplier (Fort Dearborn in Niles, IL), Red Gold picks up over 130 full truckloads annually • All label purchase orders, acknowledgement and invoices are transmitted electronically. This is environmentally friendly and saves trees! The paper labels that we use on our products are printed from metal press plates imaged via laser beam from a digital print file. The printing press used can print up to 8 colors and a protective coating (varnish) at a time. The size of the printing press is about the length of a school bus and costs approximately $5,000,000. After the labels are printed and the ink is dry, they are cut using a guillotine cutter that can lift and cut through 1000 sheets at a time. After cutting, an optical scanner sorts each bundle of 1,000 labels into bins, to be boxed and palletized. Then, they are ready to ship to one of our three production facilities. Authentic Italian Cooking in...Indiana?? Tuttorosso Brand Italian-Style canned tomato products are the perfect ingredients for authentic Italian cooking at home...and now, seven selections are available at Marsh Supermarkets in Indiana and Ohio! For years, Italian cooks have relied on Tuttorosso canned tomatoes as their special ingredient in Italian recipes and slow-simmered sauces. Be sure to look for Tuttorosso’s blue and green labels in the canned tomato section of your favorite Marsh Supermarket. With a little time, and a few ingredients, you too can prepare your very own authentic Italian meals, with the help of Tuttorosso. In addition, Tuttorosso Pasta Sauce is available at Marsh in four flavors. Marsh consumers have a rare opportunity to enjoy this great product that, as one consumer put it, “tastes like it’s homemade!” www.TuttorossoTomatoes.com AND THE SURVEY SAYS... Since 2000, the E3 program (Employees Experiencing Excellence) has made successful changes in the areas of recognition, communication, community service, safety, wellness, employee policies and the general quality of work life. In a few weeks, you will be able to participate in our fourth quality of work life survey, which is given every three years. The results of this survey will be shared with all employees, so that you can once again participate on teams that can make a difference in the quality of your work life. Our last survey was taken in 2008 and we have accomplished all of the goals generated by the survey results and the focus groups, except one--although one task didn’t get finished, it can still be done! Hire a Hoosier Veteran On April 13, 2011, RG Transport participated in the “Hire a Hoosier Veteran” job fair at Stout Field in Indianapolis. This career fair allowed employers the opportunity to discover the resources available from our Indiana veterans. RGT, along with over 150 other employers, spent the day sharing available opportunities with 1,200 active and retired men and women of the armed forces. RGT Safety Manager, Fred Caudillo, stated “RGT attended the fair specifically looking for over-the-road drivers and met some veterans who were qualified and interested in becoming part of the RGT team. Several job seekers also inquired if Red Gold had any opportunities available. They were instructed to go to the career page of the Red Gold website and if they found a match to their specific skill set they were encouraged to submit a résumé”. We met some great people throughout the day who were very appreciative that we were there, just as we are appreciative of the service and sacrifices they make for our country. RGT is excited to participate again next year. Making A Difference So many of our employees are involved in the communities where they live… we our fortunate to have wonderful people working at Red Gold who are also volunteer firemen, coaches, PTA officers, involved with their church or some other very interesting and helpful endeavors. The Newsletter Team would like to hear about you! Please fill out the form in the attachment, and either send it back to E3Team or drop it off in your facility suggestion box. Your name will be in the newsletter and you will also be eligible for a Red Gold gift basket! Cara Klein - Finance Dept. (Corporate) I am currently involved with the Elwood Community High School after prom committee. In the winter months I am busy with Varsity Girls Basketball. My daughter is Captain of the Girls Varsity and I help by doing team dinners and donating time doing anything I can for the team. Julie Rogers – Auditor (Distribution Center) I volunteer at the Lapel Elementary School a minimum of two days a week. I help out in the kindergarten class since they have lost their aides due to cut backs. Norma Whitacre – Assistant Scheduler (Geneva) I have been involved with Bryant Area Community Center and Loblolly days in the past. I am assisting with the Pennville Legion-Lions Fair this year. I am in the Wesleyan Women and also a 2nd year officer in the Women of the Moose. The most important thing that I am involved in is my stepson’s memorial fund. The Lance Corporal Andrew F Whitacre Memorial Fund was started in April of 2009, by fellow campers that wanted to do something for us and to help the troops. We sold candles at the campground to raise money to send care packages when he was in Iraq. Our friends held golf outings that year and raised over $3000 dollars. We have used the money for troop care packages, Books for Soldiers, Wounded Warrior Project, American Red Cross, Family Assistance to attend homecoming for returning Veterans, Fallen Hoosier Memorials, Honor and Remember Flag Support, etc. This has been very healing to both my husband and I, to be able to turn something bad into something good. We are planning the 2nd annual Lcpl Andrew F Whitacre Memorial Ride which will be held June 18th, 2011. Last year we did this instead of a golf outing to allow more people to participate. We raised over $3500 and are looking forward to this years event. Chris Brown – Lead Mechanic (Elwood) Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician Melissa Rominger – Account Lead (RGT) Church Board of Administration, Sparks Leader-Awana Club, Teaches Childrens Church one Sunday a month, crafts leader for Vacation Bible School, and helps with miscellaneous fundraisers for the Morrissett Center (youth groups & teens). Gregory E. Warren – Production Superintendent (Orestes) 7th Grade Boys Basketball Head Coach at Alexandria, 5th Grade Boys Basketball Volunteer Coach at Alexandria, 12 & Under Boys Baseball Volunteer Coach in Alexandria. If you don’t see your submission, hang on, we plan on making this article a regular feature in the Vine Lines Newsletter. We received lots of employee submissions and we liked them so much we decided we wanted to share them all. Since we only have enough space to feature 3-5 per newsletter, we’ll feature a few every quarter. If you want to make a submission, please fill out the E3 Civic Duty Survey (found in the break room or on RGi) and give it to your Facility HR representative, or email it to E3 Team. Thanks for all you do! Brian Reichart Honored With Agricultural Award From Purdue University Brian Reichart, Red Gold, President and CEO, was recently honored by Purdue University. Brian was one of eleven agricultural leaders presented with Certificate of Distinction, Purdue University Agricultural Alumni Association’s highest honor. “The Certificate of Distinction recognizes outstanding contributions to the agricultural community and the broader society, far beyond the requirements of one’s job or profession,” said Donya Lester, the association’s executive secretary, according to university sources. The association presented the Certificates of Distinction on February 5 during the annual Agricultural Alumni Fish Fry, at the Blue Ribbon Pavilion on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. The award has been presented since 1938, to honorees selected from nominations made by the public. The recipients are “extraordinary examples of achievement, citizenship and service and exemplify the servant leadership for which our association is known,” said Lester according to university sources. “It is inspiring how their leadership has transformed organizations and communities throughout Indiana.” Red Gold Executive Named “H.D. Brown Person Of The Year” Lawrence “Maurie” Fettig, Jr., Red Gold Executive Vice President was named the 2011 “H. D. Brown Person of the Year” by the Mid-America Food Processors Association at their annual meeting in Indianapolis on March 8th. This prestigious award was established in 1968 by the MAFPA to recognize worthy individuals for their lifelong contribution to the food industry. H. D. Brown was a pioneer in teaching food processing and technology and an avid spokesperson for the industry. Recipients are selected by industry peers. Ray Woeber, President of the MAFPA was joined by Red Gold President and CEO - Brian L. Reichart in making the award presentation. Maurie was lauded for his years of service in the canning industry and his wealth of knowledge and many contributions to the tomato industry. Red Gold President and CEO, Brian Reichart, stated that “Maurie has been instrumental over his career in promoting Midwestern tomatoes; which has benefited all canners in the Mid-America region.” Maurie’s industry leadership and passion includes his involvement in FMI Private Brands Executive Committee, Daymon Supplier Summit Committee, Topco Strategic Supplier Group. Congratulations Vendor Of The Year Award The Red Gold Company has been recognized by Target as a “Partner of Excellence” for 2010 for their Meal Essentials Department. This award is a significant recognition of the Red Gold Company by the Target Company as we will be one of a select group of vendors to be recognized. The sales growth and recognition is nothing less than exceptional and is a tribute to every employee of the Red Gold Company. It is the perfect example of our embracing a customer, recognizing their needs and exceeding their expectations in all facets of the business. to the following Red Gold employees for graduating from the Purdue University College of Technology’s Organizational Leadership and Supervision Programs. Graduating with honors from Purdue University with an Associate of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership and Supervision: Carol Elzey (Geneva) Graduating from Purdue University with a Certificate in Organizational Leadership and Supervision: Brad Buck (Geneva), Crystal Cox (Elwood), Ladge Gambill (Geneva), Travis Hood (Orestes), Kenny Negele (Geneva), Cheryl Thomas (Geneva) and Randy Thomas (Geneva). GUACAMOLE SALAD MAKES 8 SERVINGS PREPARATION TIME: 20 MINUTES 2 4 1 ½ 1 1 ½ ¼ tablespoons finely chopped onion avocados, peeled, pitted and diced (14.5 ounce) can RED GOLD® PETITE DICED TOMATOES with GREEN CHILIES, drained small red onion, chopped small cucumber, sliced (14.5 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained teaspoon garlic salt Salt and black pepper to taste Juice of 1 fresh lime cup extra virgin olive oil • Lightly toss avocados, RED GOLD® PETITE DICED TOMATOES with GREEN CHILIES, red onion, cucumber and corn in a large salad bowl until well mixed. Sprinkle with garlic salt, salt and black pepper Lyme (not the fruit) Lyme disease was first reported in the United States in the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut, in 1975. Cases have now been reported in most parts of the United States. Lyme disease is usually seen during late spring, summer, and early fall. It is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi). Ticks pick up the bacteria when they bite mice or deer that are already infected with Lyme disease. • Mix lime juice and olive oil in a small bowl. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. NUTRITIONAL FACTS PER SERVING:Calories 200, Fat 17g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 570mg, Carbohydrate 12g, Fiber 1g, Protein 3g, Vitamin A 15%, Vitamin C 20%, Calcium 4%, Iron 8% Not everyone infected with the bacteria gets ill. If a person does become ill, the first symptoms resemble the flu and include chills, fever, headache, lethargy, and muscle pain. There may be a “bulls eye” rash, a flat or slightly raised red spot at the site of the tick bite. Often there is a clear area in the center which can be 1 - 3 inches wide or larger. Symptoms during the later stages of the disease include body-wide itching, joint inflammation, stiff neck, and unusual or strange behavior. The most common test for Lyme disease is a blood test (ELISA) that checks for antibodies produced by your body in response to the bacteria. Everyone who has been bitten by a tick should be watched closely for at least 30 days. Most people who are bitten by a tick do NOT get Lyme disease. A single dose of antibiotics may be offered to someone soon after being bitten by a tick. A full course of antibiotics is used to treat people who are proven to have Lyme disease. Prevention When walking or hiking in wooded or grassy areas: • Spray all exposed skin and your clothing with insect repellant • Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants with the cuffs tucked into shoes or socks • Wear high boots, preferably rubber • Check yourself and your pets frequently during and after your walk or hike • After returning home, remove your clothes and thoroughly inspect all skin surface areas, including your scalp Service Acknowledgements Recognized once a year in the third quarter newsletter (August). Source; cdc.gov Editing Team: Lisa McMinn, Linda Wallace, Renee Dunham, Bethany Johnson, Emily Jones, Alicia Norris, Amy Terry, Susan Geiselman, Selita Reichart, Colt Reichart Personal Milestones Contributors: Luke Logan, Dave Steighner, Rick Jones, Chuck Williamson, Steve Smith, Beth Wilson, Fred Caudillo, Greg Metzger, AJ Anderson Italicized Name Denotes Red Gold Employee Marriages: Daniel and Carla (Sontag) Trennepohl, March 16, 3011 Ella (Creamer) and Billy Shannon, Feb. 25, 2011 Vishwesh and Manali (Chitale) Kelkar, Dec. 14, 2010 Nathan and Cindy Trueblood, December 31, 2010 RG Elwood, Births: Jay Hampton and Casey Hardin, Braelyn Lucille, Feb. 24, 2011 Jennifer Marlow and Erie Lamey, Conner Raymond, Feb. 21, 2011 Retirement: Aaron and Mallory Thompson, Olivia Kay, April 19, 2011 Loretta Richardson has worked in the Quality Assurance Department as a Supervisor for 23 years, full time. Her Anniversaries: career began in 1978 working 9 Fresh Pack seasons as Mike and Brenda Goens, 25th Anniversary, May 2, 2011 a part time employee. That tallies up to 32 Fresh Packs. RG Corporate, Births: Her Retirement party was April 29, 2011. Traci Clark and Darrin Campbell, Malaki Jacob and RG Orestes, Births: Mikayla Jade, April 18, 2011 Mike and Jasmine Kemp, Raylee Caitlynn, April 5, 2011 Anniversaries: Randy and Jill Merle, 25th Wedding Anniversary, May 3, 2011 Joseph and Amanda Boeger, Catalin Isabell, March 16, 2011 RG Distribution Center, Births: Mike Robison and Christina Hannah, Christian Michael, April 2, 2011 RG Geneva, Anniversaries: Michael and Sherrian Schneider, 30th Wedding Anniversary, July 24, 2011