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Hormel Foods Awarded Prestigious LEED® Gold for new Production Facility

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Austin, Minn.

Progressive Processing LLC (Dubuque, Iowa) is one of the first manufacturing facilities in the nation to receive this honor

Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) today announced its Progressive Processing LLC production facility (Dubuque, Iowa) was awarded LEED® Gold. Progressive Processing is one of the first manufacturing plants to be a LEED-certified project at any level.

“We are very proud of the fact that Progressive Processing is LEED Gold certified, which sets a new standard for the food industry,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. “When we decided to open Progressive Processing, we saw an opportunity to build a state-of-the-art sustainable facility that aligns with our strong commitment to corporate responsibility.”

Progressive Processing will use at least 25 percent less energy and water than a plant built to meet current building codes and industry standards. The facility was also constructed using materials with more than 36 percent recycled content. Noteworthy elements of the sustainable design and construction include:

  • A sustainable site, including nonirrigated landscaping, that was developed with native, low-maintenance vegetation;
  • Lighting controls that monitor the amount of light needed based on daylight, occupancy and time schedule. Similar monitoring is used for temperature control, using sensors to identify room occupancy and determine the heating or cooling need;
  • Nonrefrigerated areas of the plant use skylights and multilevel lighting to provide natural light and reduce energy consumption; and
  • Sophisticated heat and water recovery processes. For example, as part of the boiler system, heat from blowdown water is recovered and the water is captured and reused for flushing toilets.

“Progressive Processing’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer and founding chair at U.S. Green Building Council. “Buildings are a prime example of how human systems integrate with natural systems. The Progressive Processing project efficiently uses our natural resources and makes an immediate, positive impact on our planet, which will tremendously benefit future generations to come.”

Progressive Processing, located at 1205 Chavenelle Court, officially opened on Jan. 25, 2010. The facility currently produces Hormel® Compleats® microwave meals plus Hormel® and Valley Fresh® chunk chicken. It spans 348,000 square feet and will cost $89 million when complete.

For more information about Hormel Foods and its commitment to corporate responsibility and sustainability, please visit www.hormelfoods.com/csr

®LEED is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.

About Hormel Foods

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring quality, value-added brands to the global marketplace. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Hormel Foods was named one of “The 400 Best Big Companies in America” by Forbes magazine for 10 consecutive years. The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers, foodservice and industrial customers for products highly regarded for quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value. For more information, visit https://www.hormelfoods.com.

U.S. Green Building Council

The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 155,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39 percent of CO2 emissions, 40 percent of energy consumption, 13 percent water consumption and 15 percent of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

LEED

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 32,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising over 9.6 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries.

By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation.

For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.