LOS ANGELES, Sept. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ralphs Grocery
Company is proud to announce that its associate Nicki Smock has been named a Certified Cheese
Professionals™ by the American Cheese Society.
Smock, a Ralphs Cheese Specialist and resident of Long Beach, is part of an elite group of 187
individuals from 51 different companies who passed the 4th annual
ACS Certified Cheese Professional® Exam. The exam was held on
July 29 in Providence, Rhode Island.
Smock is the first Ralphs associate to earn the ASC's Certified
Cheese Professional™ designation.
The ACS Certified Cheese Professional™ Exam is the first and
only exam of its kind. It was established by the American Cheese
Society to promote the large and comprehensive world of cheeses and
encourage food industry professionals to master the
knowledge.
"We are proud of Nicki for dedicating herself to her craft and
sharing her passion for cheese with our customers," said
Donna Giordano, president of Ralphs.
"Her designation as a Certified Cheese Professional™ is an
inspiration to Ralphs' cheese masters who take pride in delighting
their customers."
Passing the American Cheese Society's CCP exam is no small feat.
Before being allowed to sit for the exam, cheese people must have
4,000 hours of work and/or formal education in the cheese-field
under their belt.
"It's a great honor to be the first Ralphs associate to complete
the exam and become a Certified Cheese Professional™," said Smock.
"I look forward to using my certification, knowledge and experience
to train our Ralphs cheese masters to better serve our
customers."
As a Ralphs Cheese Specialist, Smock is responsible for the
overseeing the operation of the 22 Murray's Cheese Shops that are
located inside Ralphs stores. Smock managed Ralphs' first Murray's
Cheese Shop, which opened inside its Marina
Pacifica store in Long
Beach in 2013. She joined Ralphs in 2006 as a Deli
Department Clerk.
In recognition of becoming a Certified Cheese Professional™,
Smock will receive an official lapel pin, embroidered patch,
certificate and the right to use the title ACS Certified Cheese
Professional™. As an ACS Certified Cheese Professional™, Smock will
be required to demonstrate continued active participation within
the cheese industry and continued professional development to
maintain this credential, and will be required to recertify every
three years.
Through an exclusive partnership with New York City's Murray's Cheese, Ralphs stores
feature 22 Murray's Cheese Shops in its stores from San Diego to Santa Barbara. Featuring
more than 175 cheeses and specialty goods from all over the world,
the Murray's Cheese Shops are staffed by Ralphs associates who have
been trained by Murray's experts in New York. For a list of
Murray's Ralphs locations, please visit
www.murrayscheese.com/locations.
For more information about ACS CCPs™, please visit
www.cheesesociety.org.
About Ralphs Grocery Company
Ralphs Grocery Company
was founded in 1873 and currently operates 209 supermarkets from
its headquarters in Los Angeles.
Last year, Ralphs contributed more than $6
million to support education, hunger relief, women's health
and local nonprofit organizations in the communities served by the
company's stores. Ralphs is a subsidiary of The Kroger Co.,
(NYSE:KR), one of the nation's largest food retailers, based in
Cincinnati, Ohio. For more about
Ralphs, please visit our web site at www.ralphs.com.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150903/263698
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130715/LA47427LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ralphs-grocery-company-ralphs-cheese-expert-receives-the-american-cheese-societys-prestigious-certified-cheese-professional-credential-300137938.html
SOURCE Ralphs Grocery Company