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At Steritech, we believe food safety is paramount. It’s not just about compliance; it’s about cultivating a deep-seated culture of protection and trust. Our Excellence in Food Safety Awards are designed to recognize and celebrate organizations in the food industry that demonstrate exceptional commitment to food safety practices and build truly outstanding safety cultures. These prestigious awards highlight brands that are actively shaping the future of food safety and setting new benchmarks for operational excellence across the industry.
This year marks a significant milestone, as the award expands beyond its restaurant origins to include clients from all industries. This recognizes that food safety knows no boundaries. Whether it's a grocery, convenience store, or retail brand, the dedication to safeguarding consumers is universal. This expansion honors those who are elevating standards across various sectors, underscoring the widespread importance of robust food safety programs.
2025 Excellence in Food Safety Award Winners
As consumer habits shift, labor remains tight, and regulatory oversight thins, one thing is clear: food safety can’t slip. Our 2025 winner and honorees, Whole Foods, Chicken Salad Chick, Topgolf, and Brinker International, have proven that. Together, they’re affirming that food safety is more than a standard. It’s a strategy.
WHOLE FOODS MARKET
2025 Excellence in Food Safety Award Winner
Whole Foods Market has been recognized with the 2025 Excellence in Food Safety Award for its unparalleled commitment to creating a food safety ecosystem that goes beyond compliance. Led by CEO Jason Buechel, the company’s "Growing With Purpose" vision ensures food safety is a core focus of their 10-year strategy, with top leadership actively involved in promoting safety at every level.
Their Food Safety Empowerment Team (FSET), a dedicated group of 45 professionals, plays a key role in driving continuous improvement, from audits to supplier assessments. What truly sets Whole Foods apart is their local empowerment approach, ensuring every store team member is actively involved in food safety, contributing to an impressive 98% participation rate. Through technological innovations, including AI-driven customer feedback analysis and improved reporting tools, Whole Foods is not only meeting current food safety standards but also shaping a resilient, scalable system for the future.
Whole Foods is redefining what food safety leadership can look like.
Doug Sutton, Steritech President
Brinker International
Honorable Mention: Embodying the 7 Pillars
Brinker International®, parent company of Chili’s® Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy®, continues to lead with heart and discipline when it comes to food safety. Their senior leadership, including the CEO, COO, and CPO, frequently visits restaurant locations, reinforcing food safety as a top priority.
Brinker has undergone Steritech's rigorous 7 Pillar assessment twice. This process analyses the full food safety program and involves input from multiple levels within the organization. This process has allowed Brinker to leverage data to continuously improve their program. The integration of technology, such as a visual heat map to monitor performance, has helped reduce key food safety issues and foster continuous improvement.
Their message is clear: food safety is everyone’s job and everyone must be equipped to do it well.
Doug Sutton, Steritech President
Chicken Salad Chick
Honorable Mention: Program Innovation
A returning honoree from 2019, Chicken Salad Chick continues to lead with a proactive, system-driven approach to food safety. Every location is required to have a certified manager on duty during all operating hours, and compliance is closely tracked. New managers are trained in certified training restaurants. These are high-performing stores with strong Steritech assessment histories.
Food safety is woven into daily routines, backed by digital tracking, automated alerts, and supply chain monitoring. With a forward-thinking mindset and a deep commitment to consistency, Chicken Salad Chick isn’t just serving safe food—they’re building lasting trust with every meal.
Innovation is at the core of Chicken Salad Chick’s food safety program.
Doug Sutton, Steritech President
Topgolf
Honorable Mention: Positive Recognition
At Topgolf, food safety is more than policy—it’s a team sport. With nearly 100 venues and over 25,000 employees (aka “Playmakers”) worldwide, they’ve created an inclusive, fun, and recognition-driven culture around food safety.
The centerpiece of their program is OneShield, a strategic initiative focused on excellence in safety, quality, and cleanliness. Built around the slogan “Go for the Green,” OneShield uses a color-coded approach to reinforce excellent Steritech assessment scores and incentivize performance.
Topgolf has set an example that food safety doesn’t have to be a chore.
Doug Sutton, Steritech President
Why Food Safety Matters More Than Ever
Proactive food safety measures are more critical than ever. We are at a crossroads where regulatory oversight is thinning, with federal agencies facing budget cuts and workforce reductions, potentially leading to slower responses to public health threats. Economic pressures and labor challenges further strain frontline teams.
This "shrinking safety net" means brands must take proactive control of their food safety programs, using data, AI, and tailored strategies to anticipate risk and reduce human error. The data is clear: adding third-party assessments can significantly improve performance, leading to a 26.7% increase in overall health inspection scores and a 25.2% decrease in critical violations. Companies that prioritize food safety not only protect public health and consumer trust but also achieve significant financial benefits by avoiding costly recalls and outbreaks.
Download the full 2025 Excellence in Food Safety report!
Want to dive deeper into the strategies and best practices of these award-winning brands? Interested in learning how to future-proof your own food safety program?
Download the complete 2025 Excellence in Food Safety Report to gain valuable insights into:
- The current state of food safety and emerging challenges.
- How third-party food safety audits can significantly improve location performance.
- Actionable checklists for C-suite, middle management, and location-level management to embed food safety into your company culture.
- Detailed case studies of the 2025 honorees and their award-winning approaches to
operational excellence in food safety.
*Data presented is gathered by Steritech through its OnBrand360®
Don't miss out on this essential resource for elevating your food safety standards!
