Putting Food on the Table While Keeping People Safe
When Lincoln Premium Poultry (LPP) opened its state-of-the-art, 360,000 square-foot poultry processing facility in October 2019, little could its leaders know the challenges they would face just months later as the result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Owned by Costco as its exclusive poultry supplier, the plant had tapped FBG to be its janitorial provider in advance of its opening.
With approximately 1,200 employees working in close quarters, there was a higher risk for sharing germs, which made cleaning and disinfecting services essential to the operation.
“LPP is very proactive when it comes to protecting their employees,” said Chris Larsen, LPP Facilities/Maintenance Supervisor. “When I came on board in April, they already had four-way dividers, temperature checks and masks being worn. They also had hourly high-touch cleaning, 24/7.”
Larsen also manages the FBG contract for janitorial, working closely with FBG Operations Manager, Priscilla Ortega.
In just a couple of hours, FBG’s Emergency Response Team had arrived with an electrostatic disinfection system and taken care of us.”
Chris Larsen, LPP Facilities/Maintenance Supervisor
“Priscilla is very easy to communicate with and very responsive, and I try to do the same for her,” said Larson. “Several times we’ve had to change plans abruptly, like working on a Saturday, which we don’t typically do. With just a day or two notice, she’s had a team come in and clean. There have also been a couple COVID-positive emergencies. In just a couple of hours, FBG’s Emergency Response Team has arrived with an electrostatic disinfection system and taken care of us.”
With 29 years of experience in the grocery industry and his role with Lincoln Premium Poultry, Larson understands the level of sanitation needed in food production areas and ensures all guidelines and regulations are followed.
“LPP is a great fit for FBG in many ways. We appreciate how they conduct business so professionally at every level,” said Andy Petersen, FBG Vice President for Strategic Accounts.
Completing its first year of operation, Lincoln Premium Poultry continues to provide tremendous economic impact to its Fremont, Nebraska location, LPP also positively impacts other local businesses, including: corn and soybean growers and other agri-business partners, logistics providers and distributors. The poultry complex includes the processing facility, hatchery and feed mill. When in full production, the facility processes two million birds per week.