SPRINGDALE, Ark., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tyson Foods, Inc.
(NYSE: TSN) has been honored for its support of minority-owned businesses, the
company reported today.
Tyson was recently named "Corporation of the Year" by the Arkansas
Regional Minority Supplier Development Council (ARMSDC) for exceeding
standards for corporate diversity and demonstrating leadership and a genuine
commitment to minority businesses. The award was presented to Tyson Foods
during ARMSDC's 19th Annual Business Opportunity Fair.
"Tyson Foods has truly earned the 'Corporation of the Year' title; they
have not only met but also exceeded standards for corporate diversity," said
Charles King, president and CEO of ARMSDC. "Tyson has demonstrated leadership
and a genuine commitment to minority businesses, our council and its minority
business enterprises."
The process for becoming the "Corporation of the Year" involves minority
businesses making recommendations to a committee of business owners. Once a
corporation is selected, the committee requests information to show support of
the Council and other efforts to support overall minority business
development. The corporation that receives the most votes by the minority
business owners is then awarded the "Corporation of the Year" award.
"We're honored to receive this award," said Cindy Carr, special projects
manager for Tyson Foods. "We believe having a diverse group of supplier
partners makes good business sense and that working with minority-owned and
women-owned businesses is necessary to help us meet our high standards for
quality products and value for our shareholders."
Through the Tyson Supplier Diversity Program, Tyson offers equal
opportunity to all potential suppliers of goods and services. Additionally,
Tyson tracks procurement with minority-owned firms and has a procurement goal
that targets minority suppliers.
One of the most recent examples of Tyson's minority business hiring is the
selection of Crossland Construction of Columbus, Kansas, as the general
contractor for construction of the company's new Discovery Center and World
Headquarter expansion in Springdale. Crossland is a Hispanic female-owned
company and listed by Hispanic News Magazine as #26 in the top 500 Hispanic-
owned businesses in the U.S.
Other examples of Tyson's minority inclusion efforts include:
* Tyson's Core Values -- Through its Core Values, Tyson "strives to be a
company of diverse people working together" and operating "with
integrity and trust in all we do."
* Leadership and Organizational Development Department -- An ongoing
Tyson goal is to identify and prepare people, including minority Team
Members, to become future leaders through the company's Emerging
Leaders and Mentoring programs.
* Tyson Leadership College -- The company provides training to develop
management and leadership skills. This includes classes on values and
ethics, communications, coaching and problem-solving.
* Tyson Workforce Home Benefit Program -- The company launched a
$50 million initiative in 2004 designed to help Tyson Team Members
obtain the financial assistance and expertise needed to buy a home.
* Newcomers Financial Literacy Program -- Some Tyson plants provide
classes designed to help workers learn how to develop a credit
history, buy a home, write a check or participate in the retirement
savings program.
* Hispanic Marketing/Contributions -- Tyson has product marketing
efforts that target the growing minority marketplace. The company also
makes charitable donations that specifically benefit the minority
community.
Tyson Foods believes in the competitive advantages of embracing the entire
business community and seeks to partner with qualified and competitive
minority vendors. Minority businesses interested in working with Tyson Foods
may fill out an application form by going to
http://www.tysonfoodsinc.com/B2B/SupplierDiversity/Registration.aspx .
Tyson Foods, Inc., founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale,
Arkansas, is the world's largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef and
pork and the second-largest food company in the FORTUNE 500. The company
produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products, which are
marketed under the "Powered by Tyson(TM)" strategy. Tyson is the recognized
market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves, providing
products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than
80 countries. Tyson has approximately 114,000 Team Members employed at more
than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world.
Arkansas Regional Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (ARMSDC) is
the premier minority business development organization in Arkansas and the
Mid-South. ARMSDC is an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier
Development Council, Inc. headquartered in New York. There are 39 Council
affiliates across the country. Programs and services include certification,
referrals, Advanced Management Education Programs, a national database of over
15,000 certified minority-owned businesses and annual conference, trade fairs
and networking sessions. ARMSDC was founded in 1978 and has affiliated
nationally since 1993. ARMSDC services corporations and minority owned
businesses in Arkansas and Mississippi.
SOURCE Tyson Foods, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.tyson.com
http://www.tysonfoodsinc.com/B2B/SupplierDiversity/Registration.aspx
CONTACT:
Gary Mickelson of Tyson Foods, Inc.,
+1-479-290-6111
|
