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Monday, March 4, 2024

Refrigeration team hits 1,000 days without an accident

Employees from our refrigeration team in
Salina, Kansas, are setting the standard
for working safely as the team recently
achieved 1,000 days with no accidents.
March 4, 2024 — Our refrigeration team at our pizza plant in Salina, Kansas, continues to set the standard for working safely.

For 24 hours per day, seven days per week, over the past three years, the members of the team have worked without a single accident.
 
“More than 1,000 days without an accident is an incredible achievement,” said Senior Process Safety Management Specialist Benjamin Mendez. “Their focus on safety is a continuation of the focus they bring to the very serious work they do to monitor and maintain our massive refrigeration system.”
 
The team’s recent achievement is an incredible safety record, and it is a record they are focused on continuing in 2024 and beyond.
 
The importance of refrigeration
 
The refrigeration team’s work is critical to our company's goal of becoming the undisputed leader in the frozen pizza category.
 
The team is tasked with making sure the refrigeration equipment stays running throughout the plant. They oversee blast freezers that quickly freeze pizzas after production and ensure the cold storage keeps the product frozen while it waits to be shipped to pizza lovers around the country.
 
Sounds simple, but the reality is that the refrigeration system is never shut down and the team must perform routine maintenance and inspections, replace parts, motors, pumps, engines, evaporators, and condensers while the plant is operating.
 
Additionally, the refrigeration team has been vital to the commissioning and construction of our new distribution center expansion and automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) currently being built at our Salina campus. Technicians and supervisors have been engaged in installation of new evaporators, a new compressor, a new condenser tower, and two new vessels and pumps.

Great job, refrigeration team! Thank you for all that you do!



Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Nokes receives National Driver ‘All-Star’ award

Nokes was recently honored as a Driver All-Star
by the National Private Truck Council.

Sept. 20, 2023 —
Congratulations to our Customer Sales Representative Andrew “Andy” Nokes, who was honored as a Driver All-Star by the National Private Truck Council (NPTC) at its recent annual conference in Orlando, Florida.

The National Driver All-Star awards are awarded annually by NPTC to private fleet truck drivers who demonstrate high performance standards against their peer drivers throughout the country. Drivers are evaluated on customer service, safety, adherence to company standards, regulatory compliance and community service.

“I’m delighted to see Andy receive national recognition as a national driver All-Star,” said Vice President of Direct-Store Delivery and Distributors Rob Schulz. “As a Schwan’s STAR driver, he demonstrates to all of us and to the transportation and distribution industry, that Schwan’s drivers are the best in the business.”

Andy is responsible for a Schwan's Consumer Brands direct-store-delivery route in the Kearney, Nebraska, area. He has worked for the company for 16 years and approaches every day like it is his first.

“You have to be laser-focused behind the wheel on our trucks and aware of every potential hazard,” Andy said. “Every day, I just concentrate on staying focused.”

Thirteen drivers receive company’s ‘Driver Star’ award

Andy was nominated for the national award after being one of 11 winners who were recognized internally as recipients of Schwan’s Driver Star Award for 2022.

Those drivers include:

  • Ronald Dickenson, a short haul driver at the Kansas City DC.
  • Jimmie Covert, a regional driver in Salina, Kansas.
  • Jarrett Sykes, a customer sales distributor in Kansas City, Missouri.
  • Stephen Allread, a customer sales distributor in Walton, Kentucky.
  • Aaron Anderson, a customer sales distributor in Bridgeport, West Virginia.
  • Don Buckingham, a customer sales distributor in Hermon, Maine.
  • Cody Carr, a customer sales representative in Richland, Washington.
  • Gerald Miller, a customer sales distributor in Cartersville, Georgia.
  • Dan Needham, A route sales specialist recently promoted to a DOT area distribution manager in Tolleson, Arizona.
  • Gerald Osborn, a customer sales distributor in Richardson, Texas.
  • Andy Nokes, a customer sales representative in Kearney, Nebraska.

​​​​The Schwan’s Driver Star Award was created to recognize drivers throughout the company who achieve superior results in the following criteria:

  • Fleet Scorecard (or similar ranking).
  • 3-year motor vehicle reports – violations.
  • 3-year accident / injury history.
  • 1-year history hours of service violations.
  • Company contributions.
  • Community service contributions.
  • Driver’s statement on safety/productivity.

Congratulations Andy and all the recipients at Schwan’s. We appreciate your commitment to safety!

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