Meat+Poultry - April 2021 - 30

COVER STORY

Butterball emphasizes
a team approach with
all its employees which,
according to Jandrain,
" makes people want to
be a part of Butterball. "

30

that team members are required to wear inside
the facilities, " Jandrain said.
He said the company's rate of infections is
going down, thanks to mitigation strategies the
company is using.
" We implemented many safety measures
through the pandemic, but I think the vaccine
is the strongest tool we have to protect the
health and safety of our workforce against
COVID-19, " he said.
" We began vaccinating team members
in February as people became eligible for
vaccination and as doses became available,
and we continue to hold on-site clinics at our
production facilities, " he explained. " Our goal
is to provide information and resources for our
employees to make the best-informed decision
for themselves and their families, to make it as
easy as possible for those who want the shot to
be able to get it, and ultimately, to get as many
of our team members vaccinated as possible. "
The company has six production facilities
across North Carolina, Arkansas and Missouri,
and each state has a different prioritization
schedule for vaccine distribution, but
Butterball's front-line workforce has been
prioritized in all of the states.
" Our teams have been on the front
lines throughout the pandemic, doing their
part to keep food on all our tables, and we
were very happy to see that reflected in the
prioritization, " he said.
Production strategies also had to be shifted.
" The major shift away from foodservice is
stopping and foodservice is gradually coming
back. As you know, there had been a big shift
to retail. We converted some operations to

MEAT+ POULTRY | 04.21 | www.meatpoultry.com

focus on retail, which is different processing
equipment, that can't be changed overnight.
Some product line demand doubled. We didn't
shut down plants, we ran them slower for a
while, but they are now up to full speed. "
Jandrain also addressed the company's
sustainability efforts and accomplishments.
He said Butterball has made positive strides
and under his leadership, the commitment will
continue into the future.
" Our environmental footprint for producing
our products was reduced, including a 7.9%
reduction in waste per pound of product
produced; 3.4% increase in recycled material
from all waste generated; a 0.4% reduction
in electricity used, with continued upgrading
to LEDs across our plants, and adoption of
new green initiatives throughout Butterball.
The company also has an industry-leading
animal care and welfare program, including
certification through American Humane. "
Also important to Jandrain, and to
Butterball's operations, is its workforce. Team
member training has been expanded, with an
increased focus on diversity and inclusion
when it comes to hiring and corporate
philanthropy. The company has also set up
experiential learning programs as a unique
path for career development at Butterball.
" We hold ourselves to excellence when
it comes our commitment to responsible
practices, " Jandrain said. " Most of all, our
people - our team members who work at
Butterball - need and deserve to be recognized.
Unlike in other types of work, they can't work
remotely. So, they deserve a lot of credit for
what they do every day. "
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Meat+Poultry - April 2021

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