Dairy Foods authors receive honors

The American Dairy Products Institute honored Phillip S. Tong with an Award of Merit, which recognizes individuals who have made a significant difference in the processed dairy products industry. Tong is Professor of Dairy Science and Director of the Dairy Products Technology Center at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif. He writes the “Culturally Speaking” column for Dairy Foods.

The Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition honored Dairy Foods columnist Clay Detlefsen (“Spotlight on Sustainability”) with the 2013 CFSAN Director’s Special Citation Award for “sustained exemplary leadership within the food industry to improve food defense awareness, outreach and implementation.” 

New officers, directors at Wisconsin dairy group

The Wisconsin Dairy Products Association elected the following officers in July at its meeting in Door County, Wis.: President: Jeff Giffin, Masters Gallery Foods; Vice President: John Breene, Dairy Farmers of America; Treasurer: Dan Williamson, Kemps; and Secretary: Louise Hemstead, Organic Valley.

Sargento promotes two executives

Sargento Foods Inc., Plymouth, Wis., promoted Kristi Jankowski to executive vice president of Innovation and Karri Neils to executive vice president of Human Resources.

Jankowski will continue to lead the conception and implementation of innovation strategies and initiatives for Sargento Corporate, Consumer Products Division, Food Service Division and Food Ingredients Division.

Neils will maintain responsibility for managing employment, organization development, employee safety, training, benefits and education needs.

Fonterra adds managing director role

New Zealand-based Fonterra Cooperative Group appointed Lukas Paravicini as Chief Financial Officer and Jacqueline Chow as Managing Director Global Brands & Nutrition. 

Master cheesemaker leads Foremost Farms plant


Brian Jackson, Foremost Farms USA plant superintendent at Marshfield, Wis., has been named the manager of the Marshfield plant. Jackson replaces Dave Schmidt, who retired in July. Jackson is a certified Wisconsin Master.

Turkey Hill president Frey retires

Quintin Frey retired as president of Turkey Hill Dairy, a position he held for 22 years. During his tenure, the Pennsylvania-based dairy processor (a unit of grocery chain Kroger) tripled in size and profitability and now sells products in 49 states, a dozen countries and three continents. Frey began his career at Turkey Hill Dairy in 1980 as a management trainee.