March 31/Rockleigh, N.J./Takasago Press Release -- Brian Buck, senior vice president and general manager of Takasago Americas, announced the formation of a team of quality experts to ensure the region’s participation in achieving Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification by June 2012. To accomplish this goal, Takasago Americas is aiming toward FSSC22000 certification, which is just one of several globally recognized and benchmarked GFSI audit schemes. Buck emphasized that Takasago Europe has already earned British Retail Consortium (BRC) certification, another GFSI audit scheme.

In making the announcement, Buck explained that each Takasago region has established a Regional Quality Control model, featuring a lead person and a support team. The team’s mission is focused on the assurance that Quality processes and procedures are firmly in place. Buck said that he has appointed a team to guide Takasago Americas’ compliance with the worldwide corporate goal to achieve FSSC22000 certification.

Robert Anderson was promoted and named regional director of Quality Systems. Buck said, “In this new role, Bob is responsible for helping establish, implement, monitor and improve Quality programs throughout the region. He is a member of the new Global Flavor Quality Committee, representing the Americas region. The Quality leadership of Brazil and Mexico will have a dotted line relationship to Anderson while the Takasago USA team will report directly to him through the new manager -- Quality Systems, Sherri Keller-Chiofolo.”

In speaking of Keller-Chiofolo’s promotion, Buck pointed out that while “...Bob will be focused on the entire region, Sherri’s role will be centered on the day-to-day responsibilities of the Takasago USA team, which includes Tessie Manzano, supervisor – Quality Control; Paul Newton, supervisor – Sanitation/Microbiology; and Ronnie Canlas, newly appointed as Quality Assurance lead. They will all report to Sherri.”

“Because  the Takasago USA  team needs to address issues pertaining to new certification as well as support regional affiliates, we are also expanding the Quality team by promoting Tatyana Nazarova to senior QC chemist, Nicolas Rodovsky to senior QC sample coordinator and Odalis Reynoso to QC chemist,”  added Buck.

“We have put a great Quality team in place in the Americas region. They bring the experience and dedication that is essential in meeting our regional and global objectives.”

From the April 5, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News