Ocean Spray Awards Superior Controls "Supplier of the Year 2007"
September 13, 2007
Ocean Spray Cranbrerries has awarded Superior Controls the prestigious Supplier of the Year 2007, Capital Equipment Award.
The award is provided to the vendor that most contributes to Ocean Spray's corporate economic goals. Ocean Spray's CEO/President, Randy Papadellis, presented the award to Superior Controls' President, Rick Pierro, and Director of Engineering, Mark LaRoche at a formal vendor banquet on September 13th. The vendor banquet was the culmination of a two day Ocean Spray event which included numerous Ocean Spray executive business presentations, a bog tour, and participation by a number of top tier suppliers from around the globe. This marks the 2nd time in the past three years that Ocean Spray has honored Superior Controls with this award.
Ocean Spray, a $1.6 billion international company based in Lakeville-Middleboro, Massachusetts, is the world leader in providing cranberry-based juices and fruit. Superior Controls has implemented automation and information systems for Ocean Spray facilities in Middleboro and Carver, Massachusetts; Markham and Seattle, Washington; Babcock and Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin; Chadsworth, New Jersey; and Langley, British Columbia.
The 2007 Supplier of the Year Award included a mounted Harvest Scoop trophy that is a replica of the first cranberry scoops introduced in the 1850's used for manual picking of cranberries. The scoops were wooden baskets with comb-like wooden teeth that would pull the berries off the vines into the basket.
In addition to the scoop, Ocean Spray presented Superior Controls with a framed dedication that reads as follows:
Ocean Spray
Supplier of the Year 2007
Capital Equipment Award
Superior Controls
Superior Controls began their relationship with Ocean Spray in 1998 and for almost 10 years has been an extension of the Ocean Spray engineering and technical teams. Superior was an integral part of the successful start up of both Middleboro's and Markham's Sweetened Dried Cranberry Lines.
Superior brings to Ocean Spray best practices for line integration, line controls, system qualification, and plant software applications. Superior is responsible for all of our IT systems on the shop floor of our food plants. These systems include process control, recipe management, downtime tracking, and system reporting. All of these systems are vital to plant operations.
Superior's attention to detail and compliance to regulations and plant rules has lead to the successful operation of an extremely efficient and trouble free system. Superior can be relied on for quick response to all service problems, which is critical for our plants' uninterrupted operation.
The Superior team includes many fine engineers who support Ocean Spray, but specifically the support and customer service from Mr. Sean Hoffman is exemplary. He is truly a proponent of customer service and has developed a strong relationship at all of the facilities that Superior supports.
As a top tier supplier to Ocean Spray Cranberries, Superior Controls continually demonstrates their commitment to satisfying their customers and anticipating their needs.
Congratulations to all of Superior's team.
Rick Pierro, President
Mark LaRoche, Director of Engineering
Our sincere thanks and appreciation to Ocean Spray Cranberries for the award, the fantastic event, and being such a high quality and valued customer.
