DALLAS — Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF) today announced the release of its second Corporate Responsibility Report. The report details the company's efforts to incorporate sustainable and responsible business practices that benefit the company as well as consumers, retailers, communities and the environment.
"We're serious about being a responsible leader in the food and beverage sector because it is simply good business," said Gregg Tanner, Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer for Dean Foods. "We continually look for more efficient ways to operate that help our business grow, drive cost and waste out of our systems, and ensure we make a positive impact on the people who manufacture, sell and consume our products."
Highlights of the 2010 Dean Foods Corporate Responsibility Report include:
•Recognition by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Dean Foods received the highest score in the Consumer Staples category among the S&P 500 and was the only Consumer Staples company placed on the 2010 Carbon Performance Leadership Index.
•The hiring of Jennifer Walker, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, as the Director of Dairy Stewardship, a first-of-its-kind position in the dairy sector. An expert in dairy herd health and veterinary medicine, Dr. Walker works closely with Dean Foods' producer partners to implement best practices in the areas of milk quality, environmental resource management and the care and welfare of dairy cows.
•The introduction by Silk® soymilk of Silk Traceability, an innovative website that allows consumers to easily trace a carton of soymilk back to the county where the soybeans were grown. The site also provides information about how Silk soymilk is made and Silk's commitment to using only soybeans that do not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Silk is also enrolled in the Non-GMO Project's Product Verification Program, a non-profit collaboration of manufacturers, retailers, distributors, farmers, seed companies and consumers dedicated to the shared mission of ensuring the sustained availability of non-GMO food and beverage choices.
•Significant reductions in greenhouse gases. Dean Foods has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions per gallon of product manufactured by 5.85 percent in two years and has a goal to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions company-wide by 20 percent by 2013.
Dean Foods' With Every Step Corporate Responsibility Report is available online at http://www.deanfoods.com/our-company/about-us/corporate-responsibility.aspx.
ABOUT DEAN FOODS
Dean Foods is one of the leading food and beverage companies in the United States and a European leader in branded soy foods and beverages. The Company's Fresh Dairy Direct-Morningstar segment is the largest U.S. processor and distributor of milk, creamer, and cultured dairy products. These offerings are marketed under more than 50 local and regional dairy brands, as well as through private labels. The WhiteWave-Alpro segment produces and sells an array of branded dairy, soy and plant-based beverages and foods. WhiteWave brands, including Silk® soy and almond milk, Horizon Organic® milk and dairy products, International Delight® coffee creamers, and LAND O LAKES® creamers, are category leaders and consumer favorites. Alpro is the pan-European leader in branded soy food products.
CONTACT: Corporate Communications, Liliana Esposito, +1-214-721-7730; or Investor Relations, Barry Sievert, +1-214-303-3438
Source: Dean Foods Company
