Meat+Poultry - December 2018 - 10

BUSINESS NOTES

NAMI'S JANET RILEY TO JOIN
MAPLE LEAF FOODS AS VP
After a 27-year career with the meat
and poultry industry trade group,
Janet Riley, vice president of public
affairs with the North American Meat
Institute (NAMI), will be leaving her
position to work as vice president
of communications with Maple Leaf
Foods Inc. in Toronto, Canada. News
of Riley's departure was shared
with NAMI members in an Oct. 16
announcement from Julie Anna
Potts, the
association's
new
president
and CEO.
"Janet's
departure is
bittersweet
news for
NAMI
members
Janet Riley
and staff,"
Potts wrote
in the announcement. "I am certain
we will continue to draw on Janet's
expertise on issues ranging from
animal welfare to sustainability to
crisis management."
Referencing Riley's many
contributions during her decades-long
tenure at NAMI, Potts praised her for
frequently serving as the voice for
the industry during times of crisis
in addition to serving as a versatile
information and educational resource
for members. Besides serving on the
NAMI Crisis Management Team, Riley
has led the NAMI Animal Welfare
Advisory Committee and in 2000,
was honored with the institute's
Industry Advancement Award after
leading its Nitrite Issues Management
Program. She also led the National
Hot Dog & Sausage Council, which
she founded in 1994. In addition,
she served in a management role for
NAMI's membership and education
departments as well as its IT
department and production center.  
In a letter to the NAMI board of

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MEAT+ POULTRY | 12.18 | www.meatpoultry.com

directors announcing her resignation,
Riley expressed her appreciation.
"Working with the Meat Institute
team, past and present, has been such
a joy. Equally meaningful has been the
opportunity to serve some of the finest
people in the world: you, the members.
I deeply admire your work ethic and
dedication to feeding the world and I'm
excited to join you in that endeavor as
a member," she wrote.   
"Few people in Washington are
permitted to push the communications
envelope the way the institute has
allowed me to do."

SAM'S TO SELL WAYNE
FARMS PREMIUM CHICKEN
Sam's Club stores in 19 states are
making room in their meat departments
for a new, fully cooked premium
chicken product from Wayne Farms.
The Naked Truth Premium Chicken
brand's Flame Grilled Chicken Breasts
are cooked using sous vide technology
and sourced from producers in
southeast Alabama that are certified by
the Global Animal Partnership (GAP).
Packages at Sam's stores will
include six, 5-oz. chicken breasts that
are individually wrapped, frozen and
feature authentic grill marks, according
to Wayne Farms. With product claims
such as vegetarian-fed, farm raised
and no nitrites, nitrates or artificial
ingredients, the chicken can be served
cold or warmed without drying out,
which is a benefit of sous vide cooking.

The company states the new product
capitalizes on its foodservice expertise
and now offers restaurant-quality
chicken to retail customers.
"This product provides more than
just an amazing culinary experience,"
said Tom Bell, vice president and
general manager of prepared foods
at Wayne Farms. "It also offers
responsibility, transparency, and all
of the features that premium chicken
products should offer."
The brand's GAP Step 2 rating is
part of Wayne Farms' commitment
to maintaining high animal welfare
standards and practices. As part of
that commitment, beginning in 2019,
the Naked Truth brand will also
utilize chicken that is slaughtered
using Controlled Atmosphere
Stunning technology.

GEORGE'S FINALIZES OZARK
MOUNTAIN ACQUISITION
George's Inc. announced the completion
of its acquisition of Rogers, Arkansasbased Ozark Mountain Poultry (OMP).
News of the deal was announced in
September. Both companies are fully
integrated with facilities and employees
across four states. Combined they
produce 25 million lbs. of poultry
products and prepared foods and
supply retail, foodservice and industrial
market sectors.
"It's an exciting time at George's
as we integrate two established
Arkansas family-owned and operated
companies into one best-in-class
operation. The combined strengths of
both organizations will help drive our
growth and innovation for generations
to come," said Charles George, co-CEO
of George's in a statement. "OMP offers
a wealth of operational talent, trusted
brands, and they are a tremendous
addition to our family and company."
Brothers Carl and Charles George
are co-CEOs of the company and are
the fourth-generation of George's which
will now operate eight production
facilities across four states and employ
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Meat+Poultry - December 2018

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