2014 ability - Griffith Foodsgriffithfoods.com/whoweare/Documents/OurJourn14.pdf · Contents A Statement From Brian Griffith Many of you have heard me tell the story of how my parents,

2014

OUR JOURNEY

s u s t a i na b i l i t y

© 2015 Griffith Laboratories Worldwide, Inc.

1919: Griffith Founded Chicago, Illinois

1929: Griffith Canada

1954: Griffith Mexico

1992: Griffith Brazil

1967: Griffith UK1973: Griffith Belgium

1977: Griffith Germany

1978: Griffith Italy

1986: Griffith France

1982: Griffith Spain

1972: Griffith Japan

1995: Griffith China2006: Griffith Middle East1980: Griffith Hong Kong

2001: Griffith Thailand2005: Griffith India

1971: Griffith Costa Rica

1976: Griffith Colombia

Date of First Entry into Griffith Locations

“And now, Griffith Laboratories

has a bright future…but we must

continue to change to remain

sustainable. So that’s a job you

now have. To reinvent the world as

far as Griffith is involved. The world

moves faster than it ever has, so

you have to move fast. Don’t be

afraid of mistakes, but do your

homework carefully. “

95 Years of Growth:

DEaN L. GRiffithChairman Emeritus

GRIFFITH LABORATORIES | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 1

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32

04

35

16

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A Statement From Brian Griffith

Colombia Profile

People

Awards

Planet

Continuing the Journey

Performance

India Profile

Contents A Statement From Brian GriffithMany of you have heard me tell the story of how

my parents, Dean and Lois, introduced the concept

of Sustainability at Griffith to me as a young child –

that Griffith was “a vehicle for greater good”. Our

Sustainability Platform is born from this powerful idea!

It captures our efforts at “doing good” and enables us

to structure and focus our intent to positively impact

society as a whole. At Griffith, we are seeking to

maximize positive outcomes and responsibly manage

the resources required for our business to excel.

Our Sustainability Framework has given structure and

form to the spirit of Griffith as a “vehicle for greater

good,” and we are committed to become more

intentional and focused on driving positive change

through our “triple bottom line” framework of People,

Planet and Performance. This Platform is not an

initiative, but a mindset to create greater impact inside

and outside our business; to drive profit and create

positive societal impact. We believe passionately that

it is not an either/or proposition. We can both do well

and good.

Our Sustainability Platform is the lens that we look

through to frame our activities, processes and initiatives,

as well as a filter by which we make decisions. This

ensures positive outcomes while maximizing our human

potential, responsibly managing resources and driving

growth for our customers, ourselves and society.

So with this in mind we have organized ourselves to

deliver on the goal of “working for a better tomorrow”

through local, regional and global teams which guide

and accelerate our progress in our Sustainability

journey.

Over the past year, I have seen and felt the enthusiasm,

passion and commitment our employees around

the world pour into the Sustainability Platform.

Teams initiated projects to support our employees

and communities, and have inspired environmental

action. Through these activities, we also elevated the

Company’s performance.

Because of your contribution to our Platform, we are

making a very real impact in all areas of our triple

bottom line. Throughout these pages, we highlight the

good work that we’ve done together, and the successes

of units around the world. You will see just a few of the

many accomplishments from 2014. These achievements

are all possible because of your contributions and I

thank you for your outstanding effort in making our

Sustainability Platform real and meaningful.

Together, let’s continue working for a better tomorrow.

BRiaN L. GRiffithChairman of the Board

GRIFFITH LABORATORIES | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT2 GRIFFITH LABORATORIES | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 3

Working For A Better TomorrowGriffith Laboratories’ Sustainability Platform is founded on caring for

our communities in which we do business, driving responsibility towards

environmental action and operating ethically and strategically to promote long-

term sustainability of our Company and the world. We are guided by core values

based on uncompromising integrity and respect for our employees, customers,

suppliers and business partners.

PeopleOur culture is built on supporting our employees, their families and associations

that are committed to serving individuals living in our surrounding communities.

As a food company, we feel a special obligation to alleviate hunger and improve

nutrition; we encourage our employees and business partners to be engaged

citizens.

PlanetWith locations on four continents, we understand the importance of being good

stewards to our shared planet. Griffith is reinforcing our commitment to that

promise through responsible administration of the Earth’s resources.

PerformanceGriffith Laboratories’ continued success is directly related to the advancement

of our customers and a strategic approach to business management. We are

dedicated to ethically and responsibly growing our customers’ brands while

maintaining our food safety excellence.

2014 Priorities Griffith ValuesThis past year was dedicated to building foundational elements of the

Sustainability Platform to position Griffith Laboratories for sustainable success.

This included developing a Sustainability Framework and ensuring our priorities

and activities fulfilled our stakeholders’ expectations, including our most

important stakeholders, our employees.

Griffith’s Sustainability Framework is separated into 18 subcategories, six within

each segment of People, Planet and Performance. Each subcategory provides

direction and opportunities to launch activities that continually help Griffith

become more sustainable. In 2014, activities were completed in all subcategories,

and focused on:

People – Employee Safety; Engaged Employees;

and Community Involvement.

Planet – Solid Waste Reduction; Energy Efficiency;

and Water Conservation.

Performance – Griffith & Customer Growth; Company Investment;

and Food Safety.

Additionally in 2014, we evaluated our current state within Sustainability,

establishing baselines for our metrics. Based on these baselines, we can now

track our progress each year to accurately gauge our success or need to evolve.

All of these foundational elements are critical to the long-term success of Griffith

Laboratories’ Sustainability and overall performance.

We are proud to be a family company and strive to help each employee achieve their greatest potential, while encouraging a successful balance between home and business life.

We think and behave with the passion of an owner. We invest wisely, take smart risks and always maintain the highest ethical and moral standards

Recognizing that our success depends on our customers’ success, we work to create value, generating growth and prosperity for our customers.

We take responsibility for meeting commitments, executing with excellence, measuring results and rewarding success.

Thriving on imagination and innovation, we foster an optimistic spirit that encourages risk-taking and the persistence to realize our dreams. We always believe the future can be even better.

We act as one across national and organizational boundaries. We celebrate our cultural and personal differences knowing that, together, we create a unique source of strength.

Sustainability is interconnected and embedded in our values as an organization. These values are collective behaviors that define our culture as a Company.

GRIFFITH LABORATORIES | SUSTAINABILITY REPORTGRIFFITH LABORATORIES | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 54

PEOPLE:a statement From steve lee

Our Sustainability Platform begins with

People – the people who work in our

organization, their families and our

communities. Our commitment is focused

on enhancing their wellbeing, supporting

their growth and engagement and

improving lives. Just a few of our many

initiatives are highlighted here.

In 2014, we enhanced global programs to

maximize the wellbeing of our employees

through a culture of safety excellence.

Global units also embraced initiatives

focused on the wellness of employees and

their families through health screening,

programs and support. Additionally, 2014

saw the launch of the Global Employee

Assistance Program based on a state of

the art service delivered by ComPsych,

the world leader in employee support.

Wellbeing also includes personal growth,

so we continued to focus on supporting

employee educational initiatives in

multiple locations.

Engaged employees and families remains

an important goal. We continue to seek

ways to better earn our employees’

commitment through benchmarking

against the best companies and acting on

our employees’ ideas for improvement.

Our commitment to People extends into

and beyond the communities in which

we operate with the aim of improving

the lives of those in need. Throughout

the Griffith world, teams engage with

institutions such as Ronald McDonald

House Charities and many smaller

organizations through countless volunteer

hours and contributions. As a food

company, we maintain a special focus on

feeding the hungry. The highlight of 2014

was our global support of World Food Day

in October, when employees in all Griffith

locations, with the help of our supplier-

partners, produced 1.2 million meals to

feed the hungry.

Our Company is committed to the

sustainable growth of People. Thank you

for supporting our People Sustainability

goals in 2014. We look forward to

continuing this journey together.

StEPhEN LEESenior Vice President

Global Human Resources

Employee SafetyTo help ensure safe working conditions at all Griffith Laboratories facilities, Jim Swanson, Griffith U.S.A.’s

Director of Safety and Security, collaborates with the Global Health & Safety (H&S) Steering Committee

(comprised of global executive leadership) and with local management and safety leaders to develop

worldwide standards of safety measured by regular audits. They address the organization and administration of

safety practices, facility condition and preventative maintenance, how incidents are documented and resolved

and other topics that create a culture of safety.

Griffith’s safety standards provide a global framework that meets, and often exceeds, local standards in the

communities in which our units operate, and establish best practices for safety that all units can follow and

measure their progress against. 2014 marked the first year all global units were audited or participated in a

self-assessment audit. These audits will be used as the baseline for future improvements.

Along with the safety audits, the Global Health and Safety Steering Committee focused on specific areas,

especially mixer safety. Components of mixer safety include installing fail safe switches and updating Lock-

out/Tag-out (LOTO) procedures. LOTO ensures that every technician or operator attaches a mechanical lock to

which they only have the key. This prevents anyone from accidentally restarting a mixer while a technician is

performing maintenance.

Mixer safety also includes dust explosion prevention programs. These programs include assessment of risks,

techniques to minimize and isolate dust, and training and retraining procedures. Additionally, the 7th Annual

North American Safety Conference, which was held this past October, specifically focused on this topic. To

further enhance and enable H&S efforts, Griffith will establish Regional Executive Health & Safety Committees.

The Regional Committees, comprised of the top regional decision makers and safety leaders, will provide

guidance and direction for H&S activities to the safety leaders in each of our units. The Regional Executive

Safety Committees will work closely with the Global H&S Steering Committee to provide the support that is in

line with our corporate values.

Safe working practices define who we are as a

Company, and the growth of our global safety

culture reflects that safety is not a program, but

a fiscally and socially responsible way to conduct

our business. It is everyone’s right to enjoy safe

working conditions and everyone’s responsibility to

participate in our common goal of protecting lives

and preventing injury.

Lock-out/Tag-out procedures stop accidents

2015 Priorities

Employee Safety

Engaged Employees

Community Involvement


94% an de deelnemers zou het programma aanradenof the participants would recommend the program

83% werkte het programma succesvol afof the participants successfully completed the program

33% slaagde erin om 2 kg te verliezensucceeded in losing 2 KG

67% slaagde erin om 5 kg te verliezensucceeded in losing 5KG

88% slaagde erin om conditie te verbeterensucceeded in improving their overall health

33% slaagde erin om spiermassa te winnensucceeded in gaining muscle

EU Walking Challenge Builds Culture

Griffith Belgium’s Results Stamps for the Greater Good

Employee health and wellness are important to

Griffith. For that reason, across all of Griffith Europe,

98 employees created 14 teams to participate

in the 100 Day Get the World Moving Global

Corporate Challenge (GCC). The GCC is a low

impact, pedometer-based workplace intervention

program that encourages increased activity and tracks

results through the Foundation for Chronic Diseases

Prevention in the Workplace.

As a group, Griffith Europe committed to walking

at least 10,000 steps per day. An incredible 83% of

individuals exceeded that mark, walking an average

of 13,445 steps each day. In total, Griffith Europe

participants walked 123,550,738 steps, equivalent

to over 79,000 kilometers. Also as a team, Griffith

Europe employees lost a combined 159 kilograms

over the 100 day challenge.

Additionally, 65 Griffith associates in our Herentals,

Belgium office participated in the FitBees program,

also a walking challenge. Before the program started,

participants had a medical check so they could set

achievable goals, such as weight loss, stopping

smoking and other overall health targets. After

completing the FitBees challenge, employees had a

second medical check. Overall, 33% of participants

lost two kilos, 67% lost five kilos, and 88% saw an

improvement in their overall condition.

But what is the best result? “There was a special

atmosphere in the Company during the challenge,”

Veerle Vanvelk, Human Resources Manager Europe –

Talent & Organisational Development said. “You could

see people having salads for lunch and challenging

their team members to get their daily steps

completed. Now that the challenge is over, groups are

still going for walks on breaks and kept the culture of

healthy lifestyles alive.”

Since 2006, Griffith Japan has been cutting used

stamps from envelopes and collecting them for a

greater good.

The team in Japan has an existing partnership with

the Japan Overseas Christian Medical Cooperative

Service (JOCS), an organization which sends medical

personnel to countries in Africa and Asia to help

communities in need. Griffith Japan employees send

the collected stamps to JOCS, who sells them to

stamp collectors. The collected proceeds are directed

to the organization, which dispatches medical

supplies and staff to the locations where it operates.

BENELUX Sales Team holding their prize


Global Employee Assistance Program

As part of Custom Culinary®’s commitment to putting action in Sustainability, the Company has been

supporting Hesed House, a full-service shelter in Aurora, Illinois, for over six years. Hesed House uses a

model called “Comprehensive Homeless Resource Center,” which is a campus-based approach that brings

professionals together to help individuals and families overcome the many obstacles that contribute to

chronic homelessness.

To support this cause, Custom Culinary® participates in events such as sponsoring dinners at the shelter,

hosting hands-on product training, and providing needed kitchen tools from the Lombard, Illinois office.

Additionally, Custom Culinary® was able to donate $4,000 to Hesed House for their HEAT (Hesed

Education and Training) Initiative, which teaches hard and soft skills to the residents of the shelter.

Each year, Griffith Costa Rica engages employees’ families with the Chiqui Tour, an educational and fun day

dedicated to introducing children to their parents’ workplace. All departments in the office and plant get involved

by decorating and preparing activities for children to learn about their parent’s profession through talks and

demonstrations. The Health & Safety team also participates to create a safe environment for the kids to tour the

facility.

In 2014, 50 children accompanied by their parents participated in the event. After the tour, employees shared their

families mutual excitement, and commented on an increased energy and pride seen among all Griffith associates.

Are you looking to purchase a home, take your family

on vacation, or would like to speak with a financial

specialist? Do you just need to talk with someone

about the typical stresses of home and work life?

To help our employees with any type of life event,

Griffith is excited to offer the Global Employee

Assistance Program (EAP) as part of our global

benefits beginning in 2015.

The EAP offers a confidential source of assistance

for employees and their immediate family members

experiencing any type of life event, personal issue, or

family change.

The Global Employee Assistance Program is a free

service, and is being administered by ComPsych®

Corporation, the world’s largest provider of employee

assistance programs and existing provider in the

United States. Your local Human Resources team

has the appropriate contact information, including a

toll-free telephone number for immediate personal

assistance.

To work directly with ComPsych, call the number

associated with your business unit. A ComPysch

associate will direct you to the best representative

to meet your need. Representatives are available

twenty-four hours every day, seven days each week,

so call at any time. You can also access the services

by visiting www.compsych.com.

The exact assistance program offered will vary

from unit to unit to match local needs with the

right system, but will generally include services

such as assistance with: emotional health issues,

such as anxiety; your relationships, including with

your spouse, children and coworkers; work-related

and home-life stress counseling; vacation and trip

planning, as well as emergency assistance while

traveling; and, lifestyle changes, such as eating habits

and smoking cessation. The benefit not only includes

coverage for Griffith employees, but also for spouses

and children.

As part of Griffith’s EAP, employees and their families

can receive five face-to-face sessions with an

emotional or grief counselor for any issue or incident.

Employees and their families can meet with another

counselor if any other separate issues occur. The

benefit also includes unlimited telephone access to

a financial planner and/or legal advisors. If you have

specific questions, contact ComPsych or your local

Human Resources manager to learn more.

Supporting Those in Need

Griffith Costa Rica’s “Chiqui Tour” Engages Entire Family

Health programsCounseling sessions

Family conflict assistance

Financial planningBudget management

Savings plans and opportunities

Housing search assistanceCollegiate servicesDay care referrals

Vacation planningIdentity protection

Passport and Visa assistance

Some of the many services available to you through EAP:


World hunger is a serious issue and one of great importance to Griffith as part

of the food industry. In an effort to alleviate hunger, on World Food Day 2014

(Oct. 16), all 19 Griffith manufacturing facilities in 13 countries partnered with

more than 50 suppliers worldwide during the “Produce for Hunger” initiative

to support local communities where we operate and conduct business. The

distributed product donations created 1.2 million meals to feed the hungry.

John McCarville, Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain and IT, said it took

a concentrated and committed global effort to successfully produce and distribute

the high volume of donations on World Food Day.

One Day: 1.2 Million Meals

“The business units around the globe really embraced this opportunity from the

start. In a few months, they were able to connect with their local food bank,

identify a meaningful product for donation, work externally to solicit key partners’

support for ingredients, labor, transportation, etc., and internally produce the

donated product,” McCarville said. “Our partners were eager to step up and

join this worthy cause when they saw the linkage to their business. It truly is

motivating to work together to benefit the communities in which we live.”

To ensure we were able to effectively feed as many individuals in need as possible,

Griffith partnered with The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN). GFN worked with

Griffith units to help create and

facilitate relationships with local

and national organizations.

“This has been a global effort

of Griffith employees and its

vendors that has been months in

the planning, and includes countless hours of dedicated volunteer time,” Jeffrey

Klein, President and Chief Executive Officer at GFN said. “To say that we are

thankful and pleased to be working in partnership with Griffith in providing this

wonderful food to hungry people hardly seems adequate. Please know how truly

appreciative we are for Griffith’s creativity and generosity, and the Company’s

huge commitment to those less fortunate among us.”

Griffith donations were sent to 15 food banks, most within the GFN’s network,

as well as local communities in China and Thailand.

“The food banks are excited to have this support so they can efficiently feed

people in need. It really goes to show how a modest effort by everyone can add

up to a significant impact of feeding people who are hungry around the world,”

McCarville stated.

The Global FoodBanking Network is delighted with efforts to support the other

local and national organizations outside of GFN’s network, Klein also stated.

“The Company remains committed to helping those in need, and will continue to

serve local communities,” Brian Griffith, Chairman of Griffith Laboratories said.

“Creating 1.2 million meals with the support and action of our employees on

three continents is an incredible expression of Griffith’s historical and ongoing

commitment to feeding the hungry. This has been such a great testament of what

can be achieved by all of us within Griffith, as well as our supply chain partners,

who provide ingredients, packaging and transportation.”

To continue the positive work,

Griffith will engage in the

Produce for Hunger initiative in

the future, producing food to

feed millions. Each of our manufacturing locations will participate again in 2015,

and the Company will continue to foster and grow relationships to feed people in

need.

19 Griffith manufacturing facilities in 13 countries partnered with more than 50 suppliers worldwide during the “Produce for Hunger” initiative

The distributed product donations created 1.2 million meals to feed the hungry.

Greater Chicago Food Depository

North York Harvest Food Bank

Second Harvest Japan

Bancos de Alimentos Tarragona

Bangalore Food BankKhlong Charoen Raj School

India Food Banking Network Local Community in Zhongshan, China

Local Community in Qingdao, China

South Normanton Area Foodbank

Voedselbank Antwerpen-Mechelen-Turnhout (VBAMT)

Atlanta Community Food Bank

Banco de Alimentos de MedellÍn

Banco de Alimentos de Costa Rica & Banco de Alimentos de Honduras

MBS São Paulo | Coordenaçao

Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio

Banco de Alimentos de Cáritas de Monterrey, A.C. (BAMTY)

Banco de Alimentos del Estado de Hidalgo (BAPACH)

Food Banks & Feeding Programs

food Bank

feeding Program


Many Griffith business units provide educational opportunities and assistance for employees

working toward degrees and certificates that benefit their careers and personal lives. These

programs range from language courses, such as English, Spanish and Portuguese at our

Central and South America units, to financial assistance when earning educational degrees.

Griffith Mexico, has engaged in a joint venture with the manufacturing labor union C.R.O.C.

at our Monterrey facility, and the Educational Institution for Adult Education (INEA), a

governmental agency, at the Atitalaquia facility. Currently, 26 employees from the Monterrey

facility are enrolled in classes to earn their high school degree. Another seven employees

successfully completed their junior high courses at the Atitalaquia plant. The unit is also

working with the INEA to offer a high school program to those employees.

These classes are ongoing and work on an “Open School” methodology. Students attend

twice each week for two-hour instruction, then study the material on their own. Every

month, a new subject is introduced and evaluations are given to test the students on their

mastery of the material. Each student must attend at least 37 lectures to finish their courses!

Along with junior high and high school classes, 18 employees at Griffith Mexico are

participating in English language classes. Classes like these advance our employees’ careers

and help better prepare them and their families for the future.

Griffith Asia Pacific, with the support of the Region’s president, Eugenio

Torres and each unit’s Managing Director, recently re-launched the Values

Program to coincide with the development of Griffith’s Sustainability Platform.

The re-launch was designed to ignite employee understanding of Griffith’s

Values within Asia Pacific, and to bring the Values to life in the workplace by

encouraging employees to “live” the values every day.

Three Values Champions were established to represent the business units in

China, Thailand and Japan. In China, Jane Shi, Senior IT Manager, led the effort;

in Thailand (Southeast Asia), Jennifer Anarna, Marketing Manager; and, in Japan,

Minako Hirose, Marketing Manager, served as the key contacts. Also, Kingman

Yue, VP of Finance and Administration, served as the team’s adviser and guide.

The Values Champions visited units in Mexico and the US, taking their learnings

back to the Griffith offices in Asia. The teams have already begun implementing

the learnings from their trip and are continuously working with management to

more effectively recognize employees who are “living Griffith’s Values.” To do this,

teams are creating more engagement opportunities and activities that directly

align with the Values that form the foundation of the Company. Contact any of

the Values Champions for more information on their execution of the Values Re-

Launch.

Griffith Mexico Fosters Education For The Future

Celebrating Company Values


PLANET:A Statement From John McCarville

JOhN McCaRviLLESenior Vice President

Global Supply Chain & IT

OthER UNitS at ZERO-LaNDfiLL

Qingdao Shizuoka Somercotes

Griffith Canada:Zero Landfill

Griffith Laboratories has set a goal to reach Zero Landfill in all manufacturing facilities by the

end of 2018. To achieve this, we need to average a decrease of 33% of materials sent to landfill

each year, beginning in 2015. Some Griffith facilities, like Griffith Canada, have exceeded this

expectation and already achieved Zero Landfill status in the plant.

Griffith Laboratories Canada, located about 25 kilometers northeast of downtown Toronto,

works directly with U-Pak Disposals Ltd., a privately held Canadian-owned and operated waste

disposal and recycling company located in Ontario. U-Pak takes Griffith’s waste materials, sorts

them and recycles what they can. All other materials are sent to Algonquin Power Energy from

Waste (APEFW) for further processing. APEFW is a state-of-the-art alternative energy facility that

incinerates non-recyclable materials, generating steam from the process. This diverts hundreds of

thousands of tonnes from landfills while producing thousands of megawatts of electricity. In fact

last year, the facility produced at least nine megawatts of electricity from the thermal treatment of

waste, enough to power 6,000 homes.

In 2014, Planet initiatives focused in the

areas of Solid Waste Reduction, Energy

Efficiency, and Water Conservation. We

established baseline metrics for energy

and water usage and measured the

current levels of recycling and solid

waste to landfill. I want to thank our

Planet leaders at all 19 facilities for your

discipline in completing a full year of

monthly recording to assess our current

levels. Tracking of these target areas is

foundational to accurately gauging future

progress.

Along with developing baselines this past

year, 47 manufacturing Sustainability

projects were completed within the

target areas, reinforcing our company-

wide commitment to resource usage

and conservation. We also established a

target of Zero Landfill waste by 2018. We

already have three Zero Landfill locations

and are aggressively working towards this

goal at all others.

Projects in Sustainable Sourcing are

underway to standardize our key spice

ingredients (chilies, peppers, sage). These

projects will verify quality processes and

traceability, contribute to the wellbeing of

the farmer, leverage supplier relationships,

drive efficiency through the supply

chain/ logistics, and ultimately meet the

customer needs. This initiative will be

further developed in 2015.

We are also very proud of the

development of our new Leadership

in Energy and Environmental Design

(LEED) Certified manufacturing facility in

India, scheduled to become operational

in 2015. The facility is built to ensure

we meet environmental needs of the

community and maintain an eco-friendly

design and operation.

Griffith is committed to the conservation

of the earth’s resources, the effective

sourcing of materials, responsible

operation of our facilities, and mitigating

the impact of waste and emissions. On

behalf of the entire Planet team, we

thank you for being part of a strong

foundation.

2015 Priorities

Sustainable Sourcing


At Griffith Laboratories units around the world, we have been focusing on

ways to reduce our impact on the environment. A key way to accomplish this

is through projects directed toward Energy Conservation. Projects to reduce

our energy usage in 2014 included everything from new air conditioning units

to cool areas more efficiently, to evaluating our manufacturing processes to

minimize the Company’s energy usage through production.

Perhaps the most common project to reduce our energy usage in 2014 has

been through lighting upgrades. In fact, almost 20% of all Griffith Continuous

Improvement (GCI) projects have been focused on lighting, such as installing

LED lights in our China plants or installing new sensors that control lighting in

Spain. Lighting projects have been completed on every continent where Griffith

operates units, including projects in China, Japan, Thailand, Spain, Canada, the

United States, Colombia and Costa Rica.

Innova Flavors is the leading manufacturer of Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein

(HVP) in the food industry. Vegamine®, Innova’s benchmark HVP for over 50

years, is sourced from soy, corn, wheat or yeast and is the ideal starting point

for applications such as appetizers, soups, gravies, side dishes and more.

The filtering process to produce HVPs, such as Vegamine®, yields a bi-product

known as humin, which is not soluble in water and difficult to breakdown.

Annually, Innova generates about 3.6 million gallons of humin, with portions

being sent to a local farm in Illinois. The farm uses this as a fertilizer source by

adding it into the soil in the Spring and Fall.

Recently, Innova found a second sustainable and energy efficient method for

reducing their bi-product, especially in the winter when the farm cannot use

it in the frozen soil. Along with using humin as a fertilizer, they began to work

with an anaerobic digester (producer of only biogas). The biogas producer

mixes the humin with other organic waste to create methane gas, which is then

turned into electricity. The transformation of humin to an energy source has

yielded enough energy to power 900 residential homes.

Energy Conservation

INNOVA Agriculture Diversion

In late 2014, Griffith was officially accepted into the Sustainable Spices Initiative

(SSI) organization. Originally created by the Dutch group “The Sustainable Trade

Initiative,” SSI is now an international consortium of independent companies,

government agencies and other organizations who aim to scale up sustainable

sourcing practices throughout the entire food industry. Griffith is the nineteenth

organization voted into the group, joining companies such as Unilever,

McCormick and Olam.

Griffith’s involvement with SSI allows the Company to participate in existing

projects started by the group, as well as start new projects designed to increase

sustainable sourcing opportunities for heavily used spices and ingredients,

such as sage and black and white pepper. To accomplish this, SSI partners

with the Rainforest Alliance to create standards for pepper, ginger, turmeric,

chilies, vanilla, cloves and cassia. As a member, Griffith will have access to the

standards and tools created by SSI which will improve our sustainable sourcing

practices around the world.

Griffith USA employees in the Alsip, Illinois office created a new team to

generate Sustainability initiatives throughout the entire facility. The Office

Sustainability Action Squad (OSAS) is a cross-functional group with members

from Product Development, Marketing, Sensory, Engineering, Pricing and other

departments, providing an opportunity to make a real impact in each area of

the office and the plant.

In their first few months, OSAS has already started Sustainability Awareness

campaigns, began a new cafeteria recycling program, distributed ceramic coffee

mugs to decrease the amount of waste from paper cups, and initiated many

other projects to inspire employees and reward participation.

Office Sustainability Action Squad


treating Water On-siteIn Fiscal 2014 and moving forward into 2015, Griffith units around the world are focused on methods

to reduce, recycle and reuse water from their manufacturing facilities. There are two common methods

by which conservation and reduction is achieved: a mechanical solution, which typically involves

equipment or other structures, such as new efficient washing systems or cleaning nozzles; and process

improvements, which relies on evaluating processes, such as water overshoot while cleaning kettles, and

developing a solution to solve identified issues.

At Griffith Mexico’s facility in Monterrey, the team has developed a solution that combines both

mechanical and process methods to reuse the unit’s water by installing their own waste water treatment

plant. This new system will treat water used at the facility, then reuse the treated water as Griffith

Mexico’s irrigation for the facility’s grounds.

This new system yields several benefits, especially decreased water usage. In fact, the new water

treatment plant will result in over 18,000 cubic meters of water savings to the Monterrey aquifer, and an

improvement to the City of Monterrey’s capacity to treat other water sources. Additionally, the plant has

been developed to meet local regulations, as well as possibly more stringent standards in the future.

In 2014, 11 water conservation projects were completed throughout units in Griffith. Through February

2015, Griffith facilities around the world have already completed or started 14 water projects.


In October, Griffith Laboratories USA successfully implemented and launched

Microsoft Dynamics AX, also known as One Griffith ERP. Enterprise Resource

Planning (ERP) is a software tool that integrates information across an

entire organization to coordinate all internal operational business functions

(purchasing, manufacturing, accounting, etc.), as well as relationships with

external suppliers and customers.

One Griffith ERP replaces multiple systems and processes with one tool,

enabling alignment critical to business success. It will drive efficiency and

consistency, presenting one common face to the business, customers and

suppliers everywhere.

After the successful launch in the US businesses, One Griffith ERP will be

gradually implemented at all units. The specific timeline will be created following

completion of the US implementation using the best practices developed by

Microsoft. One Griffith ERP links our global business and enables the Company

to deliver success in our rapidly evolving industry.

Implementation in USATo guarantee food safety in our manufacturing facilities, Griffith follows standards as directed by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The BRC Food Safety Standard is benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), an international standard created by the world’s largest retailer and food manufacturing companies. The standard covers management commitment to continuous improvement, food safety plans, quality, product and process control, site standards and personnel practices.

In 2014, Griffith had 17 out of 19 facilities successfully certified as BRC Grade A. The two locations not certified in India and Brazil are constructing new facilities and are pending certification. As a food company, food safety is our top priority, and we will continuously improve to guarantee the safety of consumers worldwide!

BRC Grade A at 17 Griffith Facilities Worldwide

PERFORMANCE:A Statement From Drew Bandusky

DREw BaNDUSkYSenior Vice President

Global Business Performance

Performance is embodied in our Company

Value to “Deliver Results” – both financial

results and in continuing to strengthen

our business for the future. In 2014,

Performance priorities focused on growth,

investment and food safety. During the

year, we made excellent progress against

each of these priorities.

We achieved record net sales in 2014,

marking our fifth consecutive year of sales

growth. This continuous achievement

reflects the strong commitment we

have in serving our customers around

the world. Growth is the engine

for Sustainability, for our customers,

communities and us.

Throughout 2014, we made important

investments with new plants in both India

and Spain. We strengthened our food

safety and quality systems through BRC

certification of our plants and began the

global rollout of our One Griffith ERP

system. Each of these investments helps

to position us for the future.

Fiscal 2014 was a year of successful

financial Performance for Griffith. These

results came not only from our focus on

growing, but also through identifying

and executing Griffith Continuous

Improvement projects and the efficient

management of our costs and working

capital. Your efforts in these areas

exemplify our value to “Behave Like

Owners,” and allows us to invest in the

facilities, equipment, people and programs

that support Sustainable Performance into

the future. This is essential to continue

increasing our positive impact on People

and the Planet.

Fiscal 2015 will be challenging in many

respects, but also full of opportunities.

We have a strong financial foundation,

excellent business momentum and a

talented team that gives us confidence

moving into the new year. I look forward

to working together to continue to deliver

a strong and Sustainable future. Thank

you for all that you do!

2015 Priorities

Wholesome, Innovative Products

Risk Management


Global Food Safety Council

In 2006, Griffith established the Global Food Safety

Council (GFSC) to lead, implement and manage key

processes that ensure delivery of safe and wholesome

food offerings by the Company.

The primary responsibility and mission of the group is

to standardize and implement food safety and quality

systems practices at every business unit around

the world. To accomplish this goal, the Food Safety

Council is comprised of a 20 person team of global

and regional multi-functional employees that have

direct and indirect quality responsibilities.

The team is also responsible for coordinating

proactive annual internal audits on Food Safety,

Quality Systems, Operational Practices, Food Defense

and Formula Security. Audits are conducted by our

external partner, DNV, a consulting firm certified by

the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). By completing

these audits each year, Griffith is better prepared

to meet the evolving standards and expectations

of our customers and prepare for our British Retail

Consortium (BRC) annual certification.

The GFSC is committed to sharing ideas and

solutions with all units, and gathers each year at

an annual summit to exchange best practices and

review challenges and opportunities as a global

team. Additionally, the regional groups meet once

a month to review their initiatives’ progress. Every

manufacturing location is represented in the team to

ensure holistic implementation and application.

Among the team’s initiatives in Fiscal Year 2014,

the Global Food Safety Council focused on growing

Griffith’s Food Safety Culture by highlighting every

employee’s role in food safety through engagement

and exposure. This included senior management

participation in audits and “Food Safety Weeks.”

Additionally, the GFSC supports Global Regulatory,

Quality Control, Quality Systems, and Supply Chain

teams through cross-functional programs that further

highlight the role all employees have in food safety.

Food safety will always be among the highest

priorities for Griffith. In 2015, the Global Food Safety

Council remains committed to enhancing Griffith’s

Food Safety Culture through continued employee

engagement and communication, as well as activities

in sanitary design, food safety regulations and foreign

material control.

Global Food Safety Council Team with Engineering Team

new investment in spain

Showcasing Capabilities

The overall growing consumer need for convenience,

snacking and product customization has led to the

development of new innovative products both in

retail and foodservice. Building on this trend, sauces

and marinades have been among the biggest growth

accelerators and a major focus for Griffith Europe

over the last few years. In 2013, the Company

decided to invest in a new sauces and marinades

facility in the South of Europe, more specifically in

Valls, Spain (near Tarragona).

The new plant will gradually generate more sauce

capacity through 2020. By investing in sauces and

marinades in Spain, Griffith Europe will be able to

largely serve the Southern European markets, as well

as potential export markets in Africa and the Middle

East. The sauces facility the Company operates in the

United Kingdom will continue to serve the markets in

the UK and Northern Europe.

The growing capability to produce a wide range of

sauces will allow Griffith Europe to meet the diverse

needs in terms of taste, texture and packaging

requirements for the European markets and

consumers.

The new facility in Spain will be operational in April

2016 and has been constructed with the latest

Differentiating a company’s value in a growing

and diversified marketplace is a challenge for

any organization. To show their unique value

and successfully demonstrate Innova Flavors’

contemporary products of meat and savory flavors,

the Innova team created the Flavors worth remembering™ brand.

The updated brand reinvigorates Innova’s image

with a fresh look that syncs with the tastes of

today’s consumer while highlighting the Company’s

manufacturing and food safety regulations and

technologies. Like our new plant in India, this plant

will also be constructed according to LEED principles.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

(LEED) is a set of rating systems for the design,

construction, operation, and maintenance of green

buildings, homes and neighborhoods. The plant in

Spain will also be Halal certified.

commitment to long-term evolution and innovation.

With design elements such as the “Flavor Burst,”

which represents the spectrum of customized flavors

offered, Innova’s new message and brand image are

meant to convey a warm, connecting and inviting

feeling while remaining relevant, fresh and modern.

Most importantly, the Flavors worth remembering™

brand is a reminder to have a strong connection and

impact with the customers they serve by creating the

bold and memorable flavor experiences consumers

demand.

One of several concept drawings of new facility

GRIFFITH LABORATORIES | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 27GRIFFITH LABORATORIES | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT26

Profile SpotlightsAs you know, for Sustainability to truly affect an organization and the world,

actions and results are required in all three of our categories: People, Planet

and Performance. All Griffith units around the world are doing exactly that, and

we are proud of these efforts.

In the next section of Our Journey, we take the opportunity to introduce Griffith

employees to their colleagues in two units, India and Colombia, and the

incredible accomplishments at each unit. Both groups showcase integration

of the entire Sustainability Platform into their everyday lives and the impact

achieved through this work.

Each year, we will feature different units and their progress in achieving

Sustainability, as well as the best practices and ideas that lead to success. We

are all excited to see which unit will be showcased next year!

Griffith’s Range of Products

Bakery & Dough Blends

Snac

k Se

ason

ings Coatings

Flav

ors &

Bas

es

Sauces & Marinades Protein Seasonings


The Bangalore Food Bank

New India Facility LEED Certified

Through the leadership of Mr. Shyam Mohan,

Griffith India Middle East’s president, the unit

stepped forward to create the first food bank in

India outside of the Delhi Metro Area. The Bangalore

Food Bank, officially named “The Feeding Bangalore

Foundation,” was launched on October 16 in

celebration of the 2014 World Food Day. The new

food bank is part of the India FoodBanking Network

(IFBN), the India affiliate of The Global FoodBanking

Network (GFN), the same group with which Griffith

partners to serve communities around the world.

In further celebration of the launch, Griffith produced

1,100 kilograms of kichdi, a locally inspired porridge

that uses the flavors and tastes of the region.

Five hundred kilograms was given directly to the

Bangalore Food Bank, and 600 kilograms were sent

to the three food banks in Delhi, providing 11,000

meals to the hungry.

The Bangalore Food Bank will continue to grow,

building city-wide awareness, capturing surplus food

for distribution, improving delivery of food to those

in need and building new programs to serve more

people.

“We are working closely with GFN to reinforce

global best practices for food bank creation and

development,” Shyam said. “Our team wants this to

be a catalyst to spur the movement to end hunger

and see more food banks become successful through

this design and concept.”

of Bangalore, will continue with the same capabilities

as the current facility but will increase the capacity to

serve the area and continue to grow the Company’s

presence in the expanding region. Additionally,

the new facility was designed and built to be LEED

Certified by the US Green Building Council.

Griffith India will also achieve the Indian Green

Building Council (IGBC) Green Factory Building

Certification, which focuses on local regulations and

India’s national priorities for green buildings, such as

water conservation, handling of waste and reduced

use of fossil fuels, among others. After the plant is

operational, we expect to be fully certified under both

bodies.

To ensure successful LEED and IGBC Certifications,

Griffith is partnering with Godrej & Boyce MFG. Co.

Ltd. to guide the Company through the process. After

the building is complete, Godrej & Boyce will prepare

a final report to detail Griffith India’s progress against

both certifications.

How do you meet emerging demands in growing

parts of the world while focusing on more

environmentally friendly methods of manufacturing?

The team at Griffith India is accomodating this

growth through a new facility scheduled to launch in

mid 2015.

Griffith’s newest manufacturing plant, located outside New facility under construction

Opening ceremony for Bangalore Food Bank

India ProfileGriffith Laboratories India has been a company front-runner in implementing

all three areas of Griffith’s Sustainability Platform. The business unit based in

Bangalore has created new methods to feed the hungry, is building facilities

that are both high-capacity and energy efficient, and has been a leader in

sustainably sourced ingredients that meet both environmental and human

standards.

fact SheetLocation: BangaloreHistory/Year Founded: 2005President: Shyam Mohan Capabilities: Flavoring Systems (Rubs, Glazes, Marinades), Seasonings, Bases, Sauces (Dry Mix & Paste Concentrates), and Coating & Breadings


Sustainable SourcingGriffith India continues to lead the development of sustainably sourced, high-

quality peppers, and has been a pioneer in the Griffith Sustainably Sourced (GSS)

program, formerly Griffith Quality Assured. GSS is a strategic sourcing program

that targets farm-level integration to help farmers improve their production while

enabling the Company to trace the produce and raw materials in Griffith’s product

from their beginning. This tracing also consolidates shipments, reduces incidences

of stock shortages, and guarantees the quality of finished products.

Griffith India’s IPM Chili Project has been a key success of the GSS program.

The Company is looking to continuously increase the amount of peppers which

meet GSS standards in 2015. The program currently includes 91 farmers who

cultivate and grow the peppers under the direction of Griffith’s field staff of four

supervisors.

The GSS program in India continues to grow and evolve with our Sustainability

Platform. For instance, Griffith India recently signed an agreement with the

Rainforest Alliance for audit and certification of the IPM Chili project for the 2014-

2015 fiscal year. We will continue to work with local organizations and farmers to

accomplish even more through these efforts.

GRIFF

ITH

SUSTAINABLYSO

UR

CED


Food Banking

Griffith Colombia has supported SACIAR Foundation (member of The Global

FoodBanking Network) for many years by donating food and providing volunteers

during work hours in Medellin. Through this effort, SACIAR Foundation has been

able to serve about 38,000 individuals in need throughout Colombia thanks to

product and financial donations.

To provide further benefit to SACIAR, the Griffith Colombia R&D team has helped

the organization to develop Nutriamor®, a powdered nutritional supplement that

uses abundant and surplus green banana flour as a base. Nutriamor® provides

necessary but scarce vitamins and minerals and is used to nourish hungry people,

especially children, pregnant mothers and the elderly. Griffith Colombia is also

donating raw materials for this product, helping individuals in need to receive

much of their daily nutritional requirements.

Caring for the Whole Person

Taking care of Griffith associates means more than providing a healthy

workplace; it means helping to better employees’ lives personally and

professionally while supporting the community. To ensure necessary resources for

employees to maintain physical and emotional health, Griffith Colombia offers

many health programs. Along with on-the-job safety programs, such as hazard

identification and risk assessment training, employees can meet with family

psychologists, and have access to medical evaluations.

Several educational opportunities are also available to help Griffith Colombia

employees achieve personal and professional goals. Some of these programs

include: High School Diploma; Associates and/or Bachelor Degree programs;

Master’s Degrees, Specializations, Doctoral Degrees; and several other certificate

and vocational programs to strengthen the skills of the employees. Along with

these programs, Griffith Colombia offers employees the ability to improve their

communication proficiency in English, Spanish or Portuguese so they can better

interact with customers, suppliers and peers throughout all of Central and South

America.

Colombia ProfileGriffith Colombia is a prime example of what it means to truly live

sustainability. Our team in Central and South America has made great strides

in all phases of Sustainability, and continues to inspire employees and their

families to do more to benefit People, Planet and the Company’s Performance.

fact SheetLocation: Marinilla / AntioquiaHistory/Year Founded: 1976General Manager: Oscar PatiñoCapabilities: Protein Seasonings, Functional Ingredients, Snack Seasonings, Breading and Coating Systems, Sauces, Liquids, Dry Mixes (sweet and savory) and Beverages.

Griffith Colombia has an R&D Center, Culinary Center, Pilot Plants for each Category and a Sensory Room.


Griffith Laboratories earned many awards from customers

due to outstanding service and development of innovative

solutions to many complex issues. In 2014, after the

official launch of our Sustainability Platform, we began

receiving a different type of award: those given to

organizations with outstanding service in humanitarian

and environmental efforts.

Griffith USA received the 2014 KEYSTAR® Corporate

Social Responsibility Supplier Award from Keystone

Foods for the inaugural Produce for Hunger event, as

well as Griffith’s Benedictine Educational Program. The

Benedictine University On-Site Degree Program enables

employees at Griffith USA in Alsip, Illinois to participate

in on-site courses that will lead to an Associate’s

Degree. Keystone Foods provides some of the world’s

finest consumer brands with high-quality, fresh and

frozen animal protein products, making this Sustainable

partnership even more impactful.

Our unit in Thailand also made great strides in 2014 for

awards recognizing Sustainability. Griffith Laboratories

Ltd. was given the World Hunger Relief Big Heart Award

from YUM! for their activities to fight hunger in Southeast

Asia. Along with the Sustainability award, the group also

received the Cost Excellence Award, the Achievement

Award and the Chef Council Award from YUM!.

Awards

Griffith’s YUM! Southeast Asia team showcasing awards received in 2013

and 2014.

Griffith’s VP of McDonald’s North America, Paul Huebener accepts the 2014 KEYSTAR® Corporate Social Responsibility Award on behalf of Griffith USA.

Giving Back to the Earth

To contribute to the conservation of water resources,

a primary objective of Griffith Laboratories around the

world, Griffith Colombia began establishing programs

and goals in 2012 with the Water Footprint Project.

The main objective was to identify the environmental

impacts associated with the use of water in plant

operations and to understand how to minimize them.

The results of the project have been outstanding!

Since 2011, Griffith Colombia has been able to reduce

our water consumption by 66%. In fact, every year, the

unit has seen a larger reduction in water usage than

the prior year, with a 35% reduction in consumption

between 2013 and 2014. In 2015, Griffith Colombia’s

goal is to use less than 0.85 cubic meters per

produced ton.

Griffith’s facility in Colombia is committed to

evaluating Griffith’s impact on the environment and

coming up with solutions that all of their employees

can follow. Because personal culture affects this

progress, they decided to measure the carbon

footprint of each of employee, and then invited them

to participate in a program to contribute back to the

Earth.

After evaluating everyone’s carbon footprint,

Griffith Colombia made the decision to take

action and return natural resources to the

planet we share. To do this, every member of

the Company planted nine trees, raising the

funds through recycling material brought from

their homes, reinforcing and building a recycling

culture within the facility. All trees were planted

near the head of the La Cascajo Creek, the

water source for the facility. Therefore, Griffith is

directly contributing to and protecting the most

used natural resource.

Solid Waste Reduction

A primary goal for our Company has always been the

proper management of generated solid waste. For

that reason, Griffith Colombia has been working to

build a company culture that looks for strategies to

reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. In 2014,

they successfully recycled 60% of the waste generated,

achieving a sizeable decrease in the environmental

impact associated with landfill. This constitutes an

increase of 33% in recycling since 2011, demonstrating

the strides made to positive environmental

management practices. In 2015, they will continue this

trend and increase recycling efforts by an additional

5%. Like all other units, they aspire to the goal to be

Zero Landfill by 2018.

New trees planted near La Cascajo Creek

GRIFFITH LABORATORIES | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT36

As you can see in this collection of stories from our Sustainability

journey, we are making an impact on the communities and the people

we serve, the planet on which we live, and the performance of our

Company.

Our time for action is now and we have great opportunities before us

to make a difference at work, in our communities and on the planet.

Each of us has a role to play as we continue our Sustainability journey

at Griffith. We can all make a difference in our own way. As you think

about our business, your role and how we can contribute toward our

Sustainability Platform, I encourage each of you to ask “What if I…?”

and answer that question with, “I will…!”

Thank you for everything you do to grow our culture of Sustainability!

As Dean always says – “The best is yet to come!”

Brian L. Griffith

Chairman

Our Journey Continues

Employee SafetyEngaged Employees

Community Involvement

Sustainable Sourcing

People Planet PerformanceWholesome, Innovative Products

Risk Management

2015 Priorities

In 2015, we will continue to build on our progress by focusing on six areas of our Sustainability Framework. These key areas

were selected through a materiality assessment that aligns our activities with our stakeholders’ interests, our ability to create

positive impact, and the magnitude of the existing gap.