AUSTIN, Minn., Sept. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods
Corporation (NYSE: HRL) today announced the launch of its
15th annual corporate responsibility (CR) report. The
report, available online at https://csr.hormelfoods.com/, contains
in-depth information about the company's CR progress in fiscal
2020. In addition, the company has launched a new set of CR goals
to guide its programs through 2030.
"Our commitment to making the world in which we live a better
place has never wavered. We're proud that we surpassed our 2020
nonrenewable energy use, water use, solid waste sent to landfills
and product packaging reduction goals, and achieved our goal to
deliver 15 percent of sales from innovative new items," said
Jim Snee, chairman of the board,
president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods. "We're also
excited for the next chapter of our journey — our 20 By 30
Challenge. Our future corporate responsibility reports will provide
updates on our progress in achieving these important
commitments."
For the 12th year in a row, Hormel Foods was named
one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media in 2020. The
company was also named one of America's Most Responsible Companies
by Newsweek, one of the 50 Best Companies to Sell For by Selling
Power magazine and a Best for Vets Employer by Military Times,
among numerous other accolades.
As part of Our Food Journey™, Hormel Foods is committed
to producing food responsibly for customers and consumers by
investing in its people and partners; improving communities and the
world; and creating products that improve the lives of others.
Additional highlights of the company's progress in 2020
include:
- Implementing projects to reduce water use by 119 million
gallons, energy use by more than 98,000 MMBtu and product packaging
by over 533,000 pounds.
- Conducting more than 1,900 audits to ensure the company's high
standards for animal care are being met. In addition, in
January 2021 the company launched its
first Antibiotic Stewardship Report, which provides comprehensive,
detailed and transparent information about the company's antibiotic
stewardship program and metrics from some of the farms in its
supply chain over the last several years.
- Launching over 500 new retail and foodservice items. The
company also continued its clean-label initiative to simplify the
ingredient statements of many of its products and its sodium
reduction efforts.
- Continuing to place great emphasis on its inclusion and
diversity efforts. In 2020, Hormel Foods partnered with a wide
array of business associations to support inclusion and diversity
both internally and externally. To support education and equity,
the company assisted several nonprofit organizations and announced
its Inspired Pathways program — a game-changing initiative that
provides a free, two-year-college education to the dependent
children of the company's team members. This monumental program
will help many first-generation college students.
- Keeping its promise to maintain a Safety First culture by
launching a KEEP COVID OUT! campaign. The company's efforts
included proactive and transparent educational materials; a paid
leave and pay protection program; access to personal protective
equipment; enhanced sanitation procedures, daily wellness
screenings and several online town hall meetings with health care
experts from the Mayo Clinic. In addition, the company paid more
than $11 million in special cash
bonuses to its essential production professionals. Hormel Foods
also opened a state-of-the-art health center located in
Austin, Minn., close to its global
headquarters and flagship plant, which improves access to
high-quality, affordable health care for Hormel Foods team members
and their dependent family members.
- Donating more than $8.2 million
in cash and products to help lift up communities. This included
$6.4 million in donations to fight
hunger, a donation of 1.9 million cans of SPAMMY®
(a shelf-stable poultry product to help prevent childhood
malnutrition in Guatemala) and
more than $1 million in education
donations.
"Thanks to the incredible effort and dedication of our team
members, partners and suppliers, we continue to achieve outstanding
results," Snee said. "We look forward to working together to
advance our efforts even more through our 20 By 30 Challenge."
The 2020 Hormel Foods Corporate Responsibility Report follows
the Global Reporting Initiative's standards and is developed in
accordance with the core option. The report is designed to allow
stakeholders to easily view top-line highlights.
To view the entire report, please visit
https://csr.hormelfoods.com/. A downloadable PDF will be available
in the near future.
ABOUT HORMEL FOODS — Inspired People. Inspired
Food.™
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food
company with over $9 billion in
annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands
include Planters®, SKIPPY®,
SPAM®, Hormel® Natural Choice®,
Applegate®, Justin's®, Wholly®,
Hormel® Black Label®,
Columbus® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The
company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500
Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best
Employers" list by Forbes magazine
for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired
companies, has appeared on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "The
100 Best Corporate Citizens" list for 12 years, and has received
numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate
responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by
its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ —
to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to
tables across the globe. For more information, visit
www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/.
Contact: Kelly Braaten
507-434-6352
media@hormel.com
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SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation