Category: General

Nelson-Jameson Featured in We Supply America’s “Force for Good” shop

Posted by Nelson-Jameson, Inc.  – General
October 12, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Proceeds will be donated to the Nelson-Jameson Foundation until end of 2023

MARSHFIELD, WI – Oct 12, 2023 –Nelson-Jameson, a leading distributor in the food processing industry, has teamed up with We Supply America in the launch of its new “Force for Good” online store. Nelson-Jameson was featured as one of eight companies in the third season of We Supply America’s documentary series, which champions the distribution industry. During the premiere of Nelson-Jameson’s episode on LinkedIn Live last Thursday, We Supply America Founder and Executive Producer Dirk Beveridge announced that a percentage of the proceeds from the “Force for Good” store will be donated to the Nelson-Jameson Foundation. 

Beveridge, an industry consultant with more than 36 years of experience in supply chain distribution, started We Supply America as a response to the challenges that distribution and supply chain companies faced during the pandemic. He created a series that documents him traveling across the U.S. interviewing distribution leaders and companies with people-first values and contributions to the communities they serve. Beveridge was moved to launch the online store during the third season of the series which focuses on visionary companies trying to be a “Force for Good.” 

“’Force For Good’ is more than a mantra; it’s a way of life, a conscious choice to see and be the best in ourselves and the world around us. As I’ve traveled the country, I have discovered that the Nelson-Jamesons of the world, these independent family/employee-owned distribution businesses that I’ve had the chance to visit, are truly a force for good, or as we like to say to “be gooder,’” said Beveridge. “They are constantly looking for ways beyond that bottom line. They make an impact for society in their local communities and beyond.”

Nelson-Jameson defines its culture based on honesty, integrity, and kindness, and a commitment to operating in an ethical manner with respect for people, the community, and the environment. Through the Nelson-Jameson Foundation, the 76-year-old family-owned company supports philanthropic organizations that share its values and awards grants to charitable programs related to the food and dairy industries or local communities.  

“We have a long legacy of philanthropy as a company. I’m so happy that the Nelson-Jameson Foundation is able to shine a spotlight and lead by example to do good, to be gooder. It shows that compassion and profit don’t have to be mutually exclusive,” says Nelson-Jameson’s fourth generation owner Amanda Sasse.

The shop features inspirational merchandise with the “force for good” and “be gooder” taglines. Hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, water bottles, journals, and more all for sale on the site. 

“The world could use more of ‘being gooder.’ We’re fortunate to be in the food industry, which is very humble, very neighborly. When you focus on these things, you can ‘be gooder,’” says Nelson-Jameson president Mike Rindy. “It’s a a humble cause that you are leading. You’re proud to be part of it, and it’s inspiring to be part of it.”

To learn more about the Force for Good movement and make a purchase to support the Nelson-Jameson Foundation, go to https://forceforgoodsquad.com/. 

A person sitting at a table with a person in the background Description automatically generated
Photo caption (Courtesy of We Supply America): Nelson-Jameson’s fourth generation owner talks to We Supply America’s Executive Producer Dirk Beveridge about the company’s people-first culture and commitment to giving back to the communites it serves through the Nelson-Jameson Foundation.

 

Nelson-Jameson’s California Distribution Center Receives Seventh Consecutive

Posted by Nelson-Jameson, Inc.  – General
October 10, 2023

100% Score in Safe Quality Food Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

MARSHFIELD, WI – October 11, 2023 – Nelson-Jameson, a leading food processing distributor, announced a seventh consecutive 100% score in a Safe Quality Food (SQF) audit at its Turlock, California strategic distribution center. Audits are conducted by the Eagle Certification Group, an independent certification body licensed by SQF, which has set an internationally recognized and highly respected standard in the industry. An SQF registered site indicates a commitment to providing quality products that are safely received, handled, stored, and delivered, and a 100% score indicates the highest level of safety and quality by all measures.


“Safety and quality are paramount to operations at Nelson-Jameson, and our dedication to the SQF program runs deep,” says Mike Rindy, President of Nelson-Jameson. “We are very proud to receive a seventh straight 100% score in Turlock. Still, we view SQF as an ongoing journey of constant vigilance and continuous improvement.”


To obtain the SQF certification, companies need to meticulously document program adherence, and this documentation is reviewed, monitored, verified, and validated throughout the year. SQF regularly releases updated codes and plans to release a new code update in 2025-2026.


Nelson-Jameson is audited under a Warehousing & Distribution certification code, and the company is then responsible for writing policies and procedures that pertain to the code. Practitioners at each Nelson-Jameson strategic distribution center are assigned to run point on the program, but SQF responsibilities are shared across the entire facility.


“We want our customers to know that we share their commitment to safety and quality from end to end, and we’re committed to participating in SQF audits each year,” says Rindy.


The SQF program was started at Nelson-Jameson’s Marshfield, Wisconsin headquarters in 2009 with the initial Marshfield audit taking place in 2011. Marshfield’s audits have averaged a score of 98.5% over the past 12 years. The company is expanding its roster of locations participating in the SQF program, with an Amarillo, Texas location scheduled for its first audit November 2-3, 2023. The company’s upcoming new strategic distribution center in Jerome, Idaho is on track to participate in SQF in 2025, once it’s fully operational.

Nelson-Jameson awarded 100% in SQF Certification 7 years running.

Nelson-Jameson Announces Support for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Posted by Nelson-Jameson, Inc.  – General
October 4, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Leading dairy distributor kicks off Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign with a charitable donation to National Breast Cancer Foundation and CFS pink-coded gift basket weekly giveaway.

Marshfield, WI, October 04, 2023 – Nelson-Jameson, a national dairy distributor dedicated to delivering the exceptional, is launching a new campaign in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The company is kicking off this initiative with a $5,000 donation to National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) that will allow NBCF to provide support, resources, and hope to women in need.

“By partnering with NBCF, Nelson-Jameson is contributing to a cause that is important to both our customers and our employees,” says Amanda Nelson-Sasse, fourth-generation owner of Nelson-Jameson. “Our company is built on a people-first culture, and making an impact in people’s lives when they need it the most is part of our DNA.”

To demonstrate the company’s commitment to breast cancer awareness, Nelson-Jameson is also partnering with CFS Brands to feature a pink color-coded line at its strategic distribution centers and an online product give-away this October. Color coding areas in food processing facilities is an effective way improve food safety and prevent cross-contamination. Nelson-Jameson will give-away a total of five, CFS donated, pink-coded gift baskets containing pink products designed for cleaning in a color-coding system in a weekly drawing during the month of October.  Additionally, Nelson-Jameson Foundation’s matching gift program will match donations employees make to 501(c)(3) charities like NBCF up to $1,000 per employee per year.

“NBCF is grateful to partner with the team at Nelson-Jameson in our mission of ‘Helping Women Now,’” says Emily Millender, Manager of Strategic Partnerships at NBCF. “Donations create a huge impact in screening and diagnostics, patient navigation, education and outreach, and support services that wouldn’t be possible without the generosity from our supporters.” 

If you are interested in entering to win CFS’ pink color-coded items gift basket, visit https://m.shortstack.page/d40JJW or click on the promotion when you visit the home page at NeslonJameson.com.

Nelson-Jameson employees Kara Lineal, VP of Marketing; Heather Simcakowski, VP of Employee Experience; Mike Rindy, President; and Melissa Pasciak, Director of Event Marketing, hold up their company donation to the National Breast Cancer Fund to help raise breast cancer awareness.

Nelson-Jameson’s Legacy as “A Force for Good”

Posted by Nelson-Jameson, Inc.  – General
October 3, 2023

Lights, Camera, Action! Nelson-Jameson’s leadership team is thrilled to have the company and its employees featured in a digital documentary series called “We Supply America: Leading Change in Distribution’s Future.” The series is in its third season and showcases eight companies operating as a “force for good.”

For Nelson-Jameson, acting as a force for good is nothing new. Father-son team Earl and Ted Nelson, two of the company’s founders and eventual sole owners, set out to create a family-based company culture. Amanda Nelson-Sasse, a fourth-generation owner, says, “Dad (John Nelson) always said that employees were also family. He’d have lunch with them and want to know what was happening in their lives. If they were dealing with any kind of hardship, he’d find a way to help.” Over time, Nelson-Jameson defined its company values as a culture based on honesty, integrity, and kindness, and a commitment to operating in an ethical manner with respect for people, the community, and the environment.

Nelson-Sasse continues this family-focused legacy with her work with the Nelson-Jameson Foundation (NJF). NJF anchors its contributions around three pillars: employees, the community, and the industry. More specifically, the foundation provides scholarships for employees’ families as well as industry students and grants across a range of needs, including community groups and hardship grants for employees. “Our company has had the same ethos for more than 75 years, and the foundation plays a critical role in the way we express and deliver on the Golden Rule culture,” says Sasse.

On the distribution side, Rindy says, “we have a five-year vision that embodies our core values, while bringing in cutting-edge technologies and methodologies that are key for strategic expansion in America and our ability to continue delivering the exceptional.” This is one reason Nelson-Jameson was featured in the We Supply America series – Founder and Executive Producer Dirk Beveridge specifically sought companies that are “leading with humanity.” Rindy notes that the company is focused on putting customers first and supporting employees’ career development. Nelson-Jameson maintains high retention of both customers and employees, while competitors are facing staffing shortages. Both Rindy and Nelson-Sasse attribute the high rate of employee retention to its people-first focus.

Beveridge conceived the idea for the We Supply America series during the pandemic, as he watched long-time customers and colleagues in distribution and supply chain companies face unprecedented challenges. He sought to create a broadcast-quality series to support the industry while also highlighting organizations with exemplary leaders, people-driven cultures, and community-focused operations.
Nelson-Jameson’s We Supply America episode premieres live on LinkedIn on October 5 at 3:00 pm CT using this link. Immediately after the premiere, the film will be available for on-demand viewing at https://wesupplyamerica.net/featured-films/.

How Cultures & Enzymes Move the Dairy Industry Forward

Posted by Nelson-Jameson, Inc.  – Cheese & Dairy Products, Education, General
September 22, 2023

by Steve Funk | Senior Cheese Technologist at Nelson-Jameson

Cultures and enzymes are biological catalysts for dairy product production, but they’re also catalysts for the dairy industry as a whole. These hard-working elements work quietly behind the scenes to strengthen the industry’s brand reputation, increase dairy product market share, and delight consumers. 

As the industry continues to adapt to changes and face new and long-standing challenges, cultures and enzymes help dairy advocates respond with answers. The trend toward plant-based alternatives is answered with vegetarian enzymes. Interest in health and wellness is answered with cultures that stimulate the probiotic benefits of yogurts, kefirs, and other cultured dairy. Here are five ways that cultures and enzymes are helping dairy processors.  

Consumer Trends: Year after year, dairy processors aim to strike a balance between tradition and innovation. Consumers count on the availability of their favorite dairy products, but they also want new flavors and formats. Cultures and enzymes keep consumers happy by providing consistently produced dairy staples as well as inventive products that introduce new tastes and textures. They can also impact how well a cheese melts, browns, or blends, providing additional variety to culinary usages. 

Food Safety: The use of cultures and enzymes is increasing because of its success in maintaining the integrity of dairy products and enhancing food safety. New bioprotective cultures can replace chemical preservatives, providing consumers and suppliers with preservative-free products that also have better shelf stability.  Of course, cultures and enzymes are not a substitute for other safety protocols, such as knowing your milk source, understanding plant sanitation, and carefully following all steps in a cleaning process. Still, ongoing advances in cultures and enzymes allow dairy processors to inhibit yeast and mold growth, prevent spoilage, and better protect their products. 

Health and Wellness: Ongoing demand for the gut-health benefits of probiotics continues to keep yogurt at the top of cultured dairy sales. Cultures and enzymes also support other health-driven consumer preferences such as reducing lactose or increasing organic consumption. Beyond product features, the health and wellness benefits of cultured dairy enhance awareness of and interest in dairy as a category and its place in the famous food pyramid.

Food innovation: Industry scientists continue to find new pathways for cultures and enzymes. Product developers can use a 50-year-old, patented culture and/or a novel culture developed within the last year to expand a product line – the old and new work in tandem with each other.  Technical experts are creating new avenues for culture and enzyme usage, such as the use of non-traditional cultures to transform the effects in long-standing cheeses. Dairy processing operations benefit from culture and enzyme innovations as well. They can be added to help accelerate production or make it easier to utilize equipment. 

Brand Strength: As dairy processors utilize cultures and enzymes to enhance product uniqueness, satisfy consumers, and find creative solutions to challenges, a bonus result is industry brand strength. Consumers stay engaged with a food & beverage category when it’s both consistent and innovative, and fosters trust in food safety and health benefits.  In turn, this brand strength bolsters marketing and selling opportunities. 

Cultures and enzymes continue to be the workhorses of cultured dairy products, but they’re also indirect lobbyists for the industry. Dairy processors can benefit from continued focus on the role of cultures and enzymes in all aspects of production. 

If you need more insight on enzymes for your dairy product production, contact the experts at Nelson-Jameson (www.nelsonjameson.com).

About Steve Funk

Steve Funk is Senior Cheese Technologist at Nelson-Jameson. As a passionate dairy industry veteran with more than 40 years of experience, he provides customers with advice on ingredients, production processes, and manufacturing improvements to enhance cheese and fermented dairy product results. His innovative approach to quality cheese-making has helped dozens of customers create and launch unique cheese recipes that are market favorites today. Steve is an active member of numerous dairy industry associations and serves as a WDPA representative on the prestigious Master Cheesemakers Board. He supports the next generation of dairy innovators by serving as a NE-DBIC Dairy Processor Expansion Grant reviewer and a mentor for its Northeastern Dairy Product Innovation Competition, an inaugural program managed by Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement and the Northeast Dairy Foods Research Center. He holds a B.S. in Dairy Science and Animal Health from the University of Vermont. When not at work, he enjoys skiing, kayaking, gardening, and spending time with his wife of 38 years, Carla, and their daughter and grandson.

Tags: , , , , ,