OSI Group’s supply chains can be described as agile, adaptable and aligned. However, it’s the company’s global sourcing presence that makes it an ideal supply chain solution for both retail and foodservice. Refrigerated & Frozen Foods chats exclusively with Mark Richardson, senior vice president of supply chain for the Aurora, Ill., meat processor to learn just how OSI’s safe supply chain operations function and grow.

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods: Summarize OSI’s approach to supply chain and logistics, both domestically and internationally?

Mark Richardson: OSI supply chains can be described as three As—agile, adaptable and aligned. Our supply chain solutions focus on having strong local, in-market resources combined with the strategic vertical integration required to creatively deliver against quality and assurance of supply expectations. OSI will continue to have a sourcing presence in countries and regions that are important to global supply.

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods: How is OSI’s foodservice supply chain differ (or the same) from its retail supply chain?

Richardson: OSI’s supply chain is universal. Whether the product we are making is for foodservice or retail distribution, it is sourced with the same high standards for the raw material. This enables us to provide the highest quality product to all of our customers.

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods: OSI received Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2014 Refrigerated Foods Processor of the Year award (January 2014 issue). How has OSI grown since with regards to executing safe supply chain operations?

Richardson: Utilizing our global market intelligence and footprint, we continue to believe in a dynamic sourcing strategy that allows us to retain supply source independence and flexibility. OSI believes that the best value can be achieved by taking advantage of market opportunities while having a base of consistent supply available through integration or strategic supply commitments.

For example, in September, we formed a joint venture with UK-based Pickstock Telford to ensure we have a steady supply of quality beef for our further processing operations in Europe.

In September 2013, we announced a new global trading platform, MPO (meat, poultry and other), located in Günzburg-Denzingen, Germany. MPO operates as OSI’s global trading platform, focusing on poultry products from Brazil and Thailand, and supports both the primary processing and further processing assets in Europe and Asia. This strategy has allowed us to have complete control of our supply chain to support our increasingly diverse customer base.

In terms of safety, we hold our raw material suppliers to strict high standards against a set of quality expectations, and these suppliers are subject to both OSI and third-party audits to ensure their adherence to these standards.

 To learn more about OSI’s global plants, check out the Future of Food Processing Plants.