Our Values

Hilmar Cheese Company is guided by the following core values:

LEADERSHIP-DRIVEN HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAMWORK - There are six primary characteristics that need to be present if teamwork is to be a reality. They are:

· Common Purpose

· Appropriate Roles

· Accepted Leadership

· Effective Plans & Methods

· Solid Relationships

· Excellent Communication

Leadership is the essential element within any group of people with a shared mission. The most important aspects of leadership are:

· Helping one another face up to reality

· Being a learner

· Enabling the people you work with to succeed

· Living core values

· Displaying excellence

EXCELLENCE (Technical and Personal) - All that we exist to be is of no value if we are not focused on being "the best." Excellence is a key element in achieving top performance (a non-negotiable in a competitive environment) and it helps us to develop and attract excellent people (our most valuable resource). An important part of excellence is placed on the character of each individual. We are committed to high integrity, authentic relationships within and outside our Company.

LONG-TERM MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS - We must establish relationships of this type with:

· customers

· employees

· suppliers

· the community

· government

· the environment

These relationships need to go through an initial period of evaluation to see if each party is capable of bringing something to the table that is beneficial to the other party - a strategic fit. Once this is established, resources must be devoted to maximize the mutual effectiveness of the relationship. Constant evaluation, improvement and innovation are necessary. Teamwork characteristics must be evident. A key factor in maximizing these relationships is that core values be shared and embraced.

PEOPLE, OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE - We acknowledge that each of us are in the process of change, either in a positive or negative direction in various areas. We also acknowledge that each individual has certain strengths and abilities that are unique and of special value. While we feel strongly that there are certain non-negotiable characteristics that need to be present in all of us (cooperation, hard work, integrity, discipline, teamwork, etc.) we also want, to the extent that we can, to maximize the abilities that are unique to each person. We will commit ample resources in terms of leadership, training, personal development, and compensation to maximize our people so that they are well-trained, highly committed employees who actively participate in decision-making, problem-solving and constant improvement.

QUALITY - "That which makes our customer excited to do business with us.” We are living in a time when "99% Quality" is not enough. We must go beyond "zero defects" to "WOW" our customers. Meeting the customer's specifications is just the "price of admission”. Customer delight is our goal.

CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT AND INNOVATION - This core value applies to us personally and corporately. Since our company started in 1985, we have seen first hand how the competitive environment, within which we exist, demands commitment to improvement and innovation. We are committed to studying all systems and processes to understand both how they should operate and how they can be improved. This includes responsible natural environmental stewardship using a long-term sustainable conservation and careful resource management approach. We will further a company culture that encourages ideas, innovation, and change, yet recognizes that stable processes are the basis for improvement.