Tarrier Foods Corporation (2014)

For more than 15 years, Tarrier Foods and Orkin have cultivated a pest management partnership that operates like a well-oiled machine. The Columbus, Ohio-based food processing company is a member of the IPM Partner Awards Hall of Fame, a significant honor bestowed upon Orkin customers who have received the IPM Partner Award at least three times. Sponsored by Orkin, the IPM Institute of North America and NSF International, the IPM Partner Awards recognize Orkin Food Safety Precision Protection™ customers for their dedication to Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Tarrier Foods is just the second company to enter the Hall of Fame.

We spoke with QA/Food Safety Manager at Tarrier Foods, David Leidheiser, about the importance of pest management at his facility and the partnership that has grown between Orkin and Tarrier over the years.

Why is pest management important to Tarrier Foods?

Pest management is an essential prerequisite in the food production business, and we take the production standards and quality of our goods very seriously. Without a proper pest management program, we would not be able to support the quality guarantee we provide to our customers. As a food production facility, it’s important for us to use preventive measures over chemical measures to keep our production area free of pests, and Orkin’s IPM program helps us accomplish this.

What sets Orkin apart from other pest management providers?

More than anything, it’s their approach and dedication to our partnership. We recently moved into a new facility and they were heavily involved in designing the facility. Orkin assisted us through the entire process, helping implement IPM solutions to address areas of concern in our new facility. Their solutions met the stringent legal and accrediting body requirements enforced on a facility like ours. Since moving, our facility has been easier to maintain from a pest management standpoint, as we were able to establish preventive protocols during the construction process.

The partnership we have developed with Orkin over the years is one of equal understanding and a common goal: to create a safe, pest-free food production environment. The success of our partnership is demonstrated by a lack of third party, customer and oversight agency complaints with regard to pest control.

What are the benefits of being an Orkin Food Safety Precision Protection™ customer?

Two reasons: thorough documentation and organization. Orkin’s PowerTrak™ technology helps reveal pest trends and allows us to think preventively versus reactively. Everything from corrective actions and licenses to chemical material safety data sheets (MSDS) and permits are documented in an organized fashion, which helps the pest control section of the audit go smoothly.

What is the most valuable aspect of your partnership with Orkin?

I think it’s trust. It’s trust in knowing that the job will always get done. Trust in knowing that we will always be prepared for a planned or unplanned audit. And trust in knowing that we have a pest management partner who supports us on a day-to-day basis.