Dairy Queen honors suppliers

The Dairy Queen system, Minneapolis, named Prairie Farms Dairy Supply, St. Louis, its Distributor of the Year. Dairy Queen cited Prairie Farms’ “superior performance of on-time delivery, and warehouse and pricing accuracy.”

The Dairy of the Year is Maola Milk & Ice Cream, New Bern, N.C. It achieved the highest evaluation score of all authorized dairies that manufacture Dairy Queen mix. Vendor of the Year is Koch Foods, Inc., Park Ridge, Ill. It was honored for new image programs and product platforms.

Dairy people in the news

The National Milk Producers Federation, Arlington, Va., named Jim Mulhernchief operating officer, reporting to president & CEO Jerry Kozak. Mulhern will have direct oversight of the communications, government relations, and membership functions of the organization. A Wisconsin native and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Mulhern began his professional career working for a dairy cooperative in Madison.

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The board of directors of 3-A Sanitary Standards Inc., McLean, Va., named Lou Beaudette(Admix Inc.) chair and elected other officers for 2013. Dan Meyer(American Dairy Products Institute) was elected vice-chair; Kenneth Anderson(Harold Wainess & Associates) was elected secretary and Carl Buell(Leprino Foods Co.) was named treasurer. Clay Houghwill serve as the new International Dairy Foods Association representative to the board of directors.

Other board members include Warren Clark (consultant), Lyle Clem (3-A Steering Committee), Ray Dyke (Cabot Cheese), Larry Hanson, (Johnsonville Sausage), Robert F. Hennes (FDA/CFSAN-Milk Safety Branch), Ron Schmidt (University of Florida), F. Tracy Schonrock (Third Party Verification Committee), David Seckman (Food Processing Suppliers Association) and Ken Vorgert (Dairy Programs, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service).

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John Kellywas promoted to director of International Affairs at the International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, D.C. Kelly will continue to support IDFA’s efforts on international trade and import and export issues, while overseeing the association’s sweetener and trade committees. “Global trade is a key growth area for the U.S. dairy industry, and IDFA will continue to focus attention on international issues that will help to open foreign markets for our dairy products,” said Clay Hough, IDFA senior group vice president.