OSI Group celebrates 20 years in China with two new projects
Global leading food-processing company OSI China celebrated 20 years in China on September 12, 2012. Since opening its first food processing operation in Beijing in 1992, when the company began to serve McDonald’s with food, OSI China has grown with China’s economy for 20 years. The events were attended by many OSI and other officials, as well as Andy Hanacek, editor-in-chief of the National Provisioner.
OSI Executive Vice President and CFO Bill Weimer said during the 20th anniversary ceremony, “China has made great achievements in the last two decades. We are honored to witness the progress that China has made. As an entrepreneurial company, OSI China has long-term commitment and confidence in the China market. We are hoping to grow together with China’s economy.”
Also this week, OSI held two other milestone events: a ground breaking event in Xihua, to announce OSI’s new mega-plant for further processing in Henan province; and a joint venture signing in Zhoukou with Dayong to create DaOSI, OSI’s third fully vertically integrated poultry operation in this country.
“Today, we have a total of eight factories in China, and we are on the path to be one of the country’s largest poultry producers,” said Sheldon Lavin, chairman and CEO of OSI. “To continue to capture the incredible opportunities in front of us, we are expanding our vertically integrated model here for poultry, in both primary and further processing.”
OSI was originally founded in Chicago, Ill., in 1909 by German immigrant Otto Kolschowsky, a butcher who opened a family meat market there. In 1955, his grandsons struck a deal with Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, to be the first supplier of fresh hamburgers for the first McDonald’s restaurant. The company grew from there to become one of McDonald’s largest protein suppliers worldwide. Now, OSI boasts more than 50 operations across 17 countries, mainly in North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region.
OSI has been adhering to five core health values (safe, green, healthy, fresh and tasty) by enforcing stringent food safety regulations in every part of the production chain. From seeding and breeding, to harvest and slaughter, from producing and refrigerating to delivery and sales, OSI’s strict food safety regulations ensure that only the freshest and healthiest foods are put on people’s dining tables.
In 2008, when Beijing held the Olympic games, OSI China successfully supplied 113 tons of five kinds of products including beef, chicken, pork, eggs and dehydrated onion. The company received zero complaints, which was highly appreciated by McDonald’s and the Beijing Olympic Committee. Since then, OSI China has been the supplier for many well-known brands including McDonald’s, Starbucks, Saizeriya, Papa John’s, Yum, Burger King and Subway.
“Our commitment in China is also reflected in social responsibility, supply chain or economic responsibility and environmental responsibility. OSI China will continue to provide for a quality lifestyle with safe and quality food,” Weimer added.
Source: OSI Group
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