OU KOSHER TO PRESENT NATIONAL KASHRUT LEADERSHIP AWARD TO NESTLÉ NUTRITION AT ANNUAL DINNER, MARCH 27 IN NEW YORK
(NEW YORK) – March 21, 2011 – The Orthodox Union will present the National Kashrut Leadership Award to Nestlé Nutrition at its 112th Dinner and Awards Presentation, on Sunday, March 27 at the Grand Hyatt New York. The award will be accepted by Rick Jentis, Head of Marketing, Infant Formula and Infant Cereal. The award is presented annually to a company with a longstanding relationship with the OU and that has dedicated itself to maintaining an excellent OU Kosher program.
The OU certifies 22 Nestlé Nutrition products including baby food, which is extremely important to the Orthodox community. It has certified Nestlé Nutrition since 1992.
“The OU is proud to be associated with Nestlé Nutrition, because there is a natural match between us,” said Rabbi Menachem Genack, Chief Executive Officer of OU Kosher. “Like the OU, Nestlé represents precision and high standards, and like the OU the company is very motivated philanthropically to help people around the globe.”
Paul Casaletto, Head of Quality Assurance, Nestlé Nutrition, NA , declared, “Nestlé Nutrition prides itself on providing products that meet the needs of a diverse customer base. The OU has given us ideas on how we can better meet the needs in the marketplace for kosher products. Working closely with OU rabbis when they come to our plant, we know what it takes to make a good kosher product. The OU symbol signifies that these Nestlé Nutrition products have been manufactured in accordance with the highest kosher standards.
“The relationship Nestlé Nutrition has with the OU is very important for our business and very important for our customer base,” Mr. Casaletto said. We foresee continuing to build this relationship with the OU for many years to come.”
Rabbi Moshe Elefant, Chief Operating Officer of OU Kosher declared, “Nestlé Nutrition takes its kosher program very seriously and is highly deserving of the National Kashrut Leadership Award.”
About Nestlé Nutrition and Gerber:
Nestlé Nutrition, part of Nestlé S.A., a world leader in nutrition, health and wellness and is dedicated to infant, healthcare and performance nutrition, and weight management. Gerber Products Company, founded in 1928, officially joined the Nestlé family on September 1, 2007. Nestlé and Gerber’s combined resources and scientific research expertise have enabled the company to become a worldwide leader in early childhood nutrition. Gerber produces more than 200 food products, all of which are a part of Nestlé’s proprietary Start Healthy, Stay Healthy™ integrated nutrition system. Start Healthy, Stay Healthy™ combines products, educational resources and services that are designed to encourage the early establishment of healthy eating habits in children from birth to preschool.
Rick Jentis Corporate Biography:
Rick Jentis is the Head of Infant Formula, Cereal and WIC at Nestlé Nutrition/Gerber. Throughout his 11 years with Gerber Products Company, Rick led the re-launch of the Gerber Wellness portfolio consisting of skincare and personal care products, building the business to number two share in the category. Rick continued his success with the company by leading multi-cultural marketing initiatives, managing the infant cereal and juice businesses to the highest ever market share, and grew the Toddler portfolio with targeted innovations. Rick also managed the Gerber business in Canada, which included the expansion of the Gerber Nutrition portfolio.
Most recently, Rick led the re-launch of GOOD START® infant formula under the Gerber brand.
Prior to his employment at Gerber, Rick was an Associate Product Manager at Unilever where he oversaw budgets, forecasting and innovation execution for the Surf Laundry Detergent business.
Rick graduated with a B.A. from Cornell University and received his M.B.A from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
For more information on Nestlé Nutrition, visit www.nestlenutrition.com; for more information on Gerber, visit www.gerber.com.
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