Cargill Honored for Efforts to Boost Diverse Supplier Base

Cargill established a supplier diversity initiative in 2003 to accelerate its efforts to add minority-owned, women-owned and small business enterprises to its supplier base in the United States.

22/09/08 Cargill has been named 2008 Corporation of the Year by the Midwest Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC), a chapter of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). The award will be presented at MMSDC’s Minority Business Opportunity Fair at noon Wednesday, Sept. 24 at St. Paul’s RiverCentre.

Established in 1975, MMSDC helps connect minority-owned businesses and corporations throughout Minnesota and the Dakotas. It is one of 39 regional councils of the NMSDC dedicated to promoting awareness of the capabilities of minority vendors in the business community and increasing the amount of purchasing from certified minority vendors by corporations.

“Cargill should be congratulated for a job well-done,” said Alvin-o Williams, president of MMSDC. “It is reassuring to see how Cargill’s strong commitment to supplier diversity has flourished, especially in the past five years.”

Cargill established a supplier diversity initiative in 2003 to accelerate its efforts to add minority-owned, women-owned and small business enterprises to its supplier base in the United States. Under the leadership of Tim Thomas, director of supplier diversity, the effort has resulted in an increase in diverse supplier spending of almost 94 percent since 2004.

“Our goal is to make it easier for minority- and woman-owned businesses and small businesses in general, to connect with the right people inside our company,” Thomas said.

“We recognize that approaching a global company like ours can be challenging. We want to do all we can to clear unnecessary obstacles. If a supplier effectively addresses cost, quality and service while helping us improve our inclusion goals, we want to give them an equal opportunity to work with us.”