Kroger and Murray's Cheese Team Members Named ACS Certified Cheese Professionals^®

As the celebration surrounding the esteemed particulars of the cheese industry continues, team members of Kroger’s in-store partner Murray’s Cheese have been named to the Certified Cheese Professionals® list compiled by the American Cheese Society (ACS).

“I'm so proud of our new CCPs for their dedication, and thankful to Kroger for their support of our team members across the country," said Rob Kaufelt, Murray's Cheese's Owner and President. "The ACS has taken tremendous steps to create opportunities for growth and enhancement among cheese professionals. It's truly rewarding and we're all grateful for this recognition."

Murray’s Cheese, whose cheese brand centers reside in select Krogers, and its 29 team members have helped make up the 155 individuals who passed the 6th ACS
CCP® Exam on July 27, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa.
According to a press release, the ACS CCP® Exam now has 740 certified professionals on its list, encompassing cheese denizens of the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

"We congratulate these individuals on this tremendous professional accomplishment. We are incredibly proud of the cheese professionals who have earned the designation of Certified Cheese Professional," said Nora Weiser, Executive Director of the American Cheese Society. "The level of understanding and professionalism that ACS CCPs® bring to the industry benefits everyone from the cheesemaker to the consumer, and elevates an already thriving artisan cheese industry to an entirely new level." 

The ACS CCP® was launched in 2012 to emphasize high standards of comprehensive cheese knowledge and service for all areas of the industry. This unique test encompasses a broad range of topics, which includes testing on raw ingredients, the cheesemaking process, storing and handling cheese, marketing and communications, nutrition, regulations and sanitation.

The Kroger and Murray's Cheese associates who have earned the cerfication are as follows:

• Audrey Aponte – Murray's Cheese, New York City
• Nathan Larsen – Kroger, Columbus, OH
• Jean Bollinger – Kroger, Cincinnati, OH
• Stephen Lindley – Murray's Cheese, New York City
• Janice Bonner – Kroger, Nashville, TN
• Becky Nawrocki – Murray's Cheese, New York City
• Lisa Calkins – Fry's, Phoenix, AZ
• Wendy Reichenbach – Ralph's, Los Angeles, CA 
• Christine Clark – Murray's Cheese, New York City
• Spencer Riggan – Fred Meyer, Bothell, WA 
• Liam Devlin – QFC, Kirkland, WA
• Ezekial Rodriguez – King Soopers, Littleton, CO
• Zach England – King Soopers, Littleton, CO
• Patrick Rooney – Dillons, Wichita, KS
• Chad Farmer Davis – Kroger, Cincinnati, OH
• Diane Rudolph – Kroger, Atlanta, GA
• Ashley Fisher – Fred Meyer, Bothell, WA
• Sabrina Simpson – Murray's Cheese, New York City
• Adam Goddu – Murray's Cheese, New York City
• Timothy Stauffer – QFC, Kirkland, WA
• Denise Graziani – Kroger, Michigan
• Meghan Stone – Kroger, Cincinnati, OH
• Daniel Helm – Kroger, Louisville, KY
• Greg Trevino – Fred Meyer, Bothell, WA
• Seth Johnson – King Soopers, Littleton, CO
• Douglas Vaughn – Kroger, Cincinnati, OH
• Sara Knickerbocker – Dillons, Wichita, KS
• Marta Zubar – Kroger, Michigan

Congratulations to all the new ACS CCPs®, and for more information on the distinguished title and its awardees, click here.