View the latest news and updates from QCS Purchasing Cooperative.

QCS Purchasing Cooperative: Investing in the Future of Dairy’s Next Generation of Leaders
4/15/2025
QCS Purchasing Cooperative proudly reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to advancing dairy education and industry excellence by supporting the Collegiate Dairy Product Evaluation Contest (CDPEC) at CheeseCon 2025. Students from eight universities tested their sensory abilities in this prestigious competition. As part of this year’s recognition, QCS Director of Quality and Food Safety, Amanda Moore, presented a check to the 2025 All Products Winner, the team from Cal Poly. The funds will be used by the university to purchase much-needed lab equipment and cover other program expenses—ensuring students have access to the tools and resources necessary for continued hands-on dairy training. Read more...

QCS Purchasing Cooperative Strengthens Industry Presence at IDFA’s 2025 International Sweetener Colloquium
3/17/2025
QCS Purchasing Cooperative reinforced its leadership in the food ingredient industry as a key sponsor of the 2025 International Sweetener Colloquium, hosted by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the Sweetener Users Association (SUA). Held in February, the event brought together key players in the global sweetener market, providing valuable opportunities for networking, industry insights, and business development.  Read more…

Producers Dairy, Royal Crest Dairy, and HP Hood Take Top Honors in the 2024 QCS Nog-Off Contest
1/7/2025
QCS Purchasing Cooperative has announced the winners of the 2024 Nog-Off Contest, recognizing excellence in eggnog production. This year’s competition featured a historic first—the introduction of a plant-based nog category—showcasing the industry’s evolving landscape.

Producers Dairy Foods, Inc. claimed the top spot for Regular Eggnog, while Royal Crest Dairy, Inc. took home the award for Lite Eggnog. In a milestone win, HP Hood LLC’s Oat Nog secured victory in the inaugural Plant-Based Nog category. Each entry was judged on key sensory attributes, including flavor, texture, and overall quality, by a diverse panel of experts.

With this year’s competition setting new standards, QCS celebrates the commitment of its members to delivering top-tier eggnog products. Read more…

Umpqua Dairy Products Company Honored with the 2024 Irving B. Weber Award for Total Quality Excellence
10/31/2024
Umpqua Dairy Products Company has been awarded the prestigious Irving B. Weber Award for Total Quality Excellence at the QCS Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado. This award, regarded as the highest honor in the QCS Dairy Quality Excellence Program, recognizes the company’s unwavering dedication to superior quality, food safety, and operational excellence.

This year’s award season saw Umpqua Dairy deliver an unparalleled performance, winning in every category they entered: Fluid Milk, Cultured Products, and Ice Cream. Such an accomplishment is unprecedented in the history of the Dairy Quality Excellence Awards, with no records showing similar success since the 1980s. Read more…

QCS Purchasing Cooperative Wraps 2024 Annual Conference with Focus on Value Creation
10/23/2024
The QCS Annual Conference concluded successfully this week. The three-day event in Denver, Colorado, brought together one of the largest numbers of member companies in recent history, along with an equally impressive number of supply partners, to explore opportunities, foster connections, and celebrate achievements. It underscored the power of cooperative partnerships within the food and beverage industry.

“We’re thrilled with the strong representation of both members and supply partners this year,” said Ken Klug, President and CEO of QCS Purchasing Cooperative. “The diversity of our cooperative continues to grow, reflecting a broadening industry segment from dairy to beverage to fruit and vegetable packing. These collaborations drive success and provide value to everyone involved.”  Read more…

QCS Purchasing Cooperative Announces Finalists for the Prestigious 2024 QCS Leadership Awards
09/21/2024
QCS Purchasing Cooperative, has named the finalists for their Member and Supply Partner Leadership Awards. Each year, the QCS Leadership Awards recognize those member companies and supply partners that have been the most engaged and made significant contributions to the QCS community. The award winners will be announced at the QCS 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado in October. Read more…

Umpqua Dairy Secures Historic Wins in the 2024 QCS Dairy Quality Excellence Program
08/14/2024
QCS Purchasing Cooperative proudly announces that Umpqua Dairy has achieved an unprecedented sweep in the 2024 QCS Dairy Quality Excellence (DQE) Program. Umpqua Dairy excelled in all three categories they entered—Fluid Milk, Cultured Products, and Ice Cream—marking a first in recent history for QCS programs. In addition to these top honors, Umpqua Dairy was also awarded three Merit Awards, including the only Merit Award granted in the 2023-24 cycle for the Ice Cream category. These significant accomplishments have positioned Umpqua Dairy as a finalist for the prestigious Irving B. Weber Award for Total Quality Excellence. Read more…

QCS Purchasing Cooperative Announces Board Elections and Highlights Vision for the Future
05/07/2024
QCS Purchasing Cooperative held its Spring Leadership Meeting on April 18, 2024, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The organization is proud to announce the re-election of three board members to a second term and the election of two new directors to their first term. The board is actively engaged in cooperative activities, volunteering countless hours through frequent meetings, committee work, and continuous communication to represent member interests effectively.
Read more…

QCS 2023 Y/E Financial Results Delivers Exceptional Value Back to its Membership
02/20/2024
According to the latest financial results for the year ending 2023, QCS Purchasing Cooperative has once again delivered exceptional value to its members. The announcement was made by Ken Klug, the President and CEO of QCS, during a recent staff town hall meeting. Klug expressed his excitement about the impressive financial results and stated that “In 2023, QCS fulfilled its mission of helping member companies become more competitive and successful by increasing rebates paid to member-owners by 22% and capturing over $29 million in price reductions. While cost savings are just one of the ways QCS delivers value, returning money back in the hands of our members is often the most meaningful. I am proud of all our team has accomplished for our member-owners and look forward to continuing to deliver value in 2024!” Read more…

Ken Klug, CEO of QCS Purchasing Cooperative, Named to The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) Yogurt and Cultured Products Industry Segment Board
01/24/2024
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced that Ken Klug, President and CEO of QCS Purchasing Cooperative, has been named a Partner Representative for the IDFA Yogurt and Cultured Products Board. Klug expressed his enthusiasm in response to his appointment: “It is an honor to join the IDFA Yogurt and Cultured Products Segment Board. This role not only represents the collective efforts and aspirations of the team at QCS Purchasing Cooperative but also a significant personal achievement. I look forward to contributing my experience and insights to advance the interests of the yogurt and cultured products segment, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of our dynamic industry.” Read more…

QCS Announces Anderson Erickson as the 2023 Winner of Regular & Lite Egg QCS Nog-Off Awards
12/20/2023
QCS Purchasing Cooperative, has announced the recipient of the 2023 Nog-Off Contest Awards is Anderson Erickson of Des Moines, Iowa. Recognized as the best Egg Nog for overall quality throughout the QCS organization in both the regular and the lite eggnog categories, this honor distinguishes Anderson Erickson’s commitment to product quality. Read more…

QCS Purchasing Cooperative Honors Outgoing Chairman of the Board During Annual Conference
11/07/23
QCS Purchasing Cooperative celebrated retiring QCS Board Chairman Diane Manganaro for her remarkable contributions and unwavering dedication during last week’s annual conference. Manganaro, senior director at HP Hood, LLC, has been a staunch proponent of the cooperative and its legacy organizations, QCS Purchasing LLC and SECO. Read more…

QCS Purchasing Cooperative Demonstrates Value in Partnership at Annual Conference
11/03/23
The QCS Annual Conference, which took place in Orlando, Florida, from October 22-24, 2023, showcased the importance of value in partnership. The three-day event included educational sessions, networking opportunities, and an awards ceremony for member and supply partner companies. This year’s conference, themed Value in Partnership, opened with QCS Purchasing Cooperative President and CEO Ken Klug and QCS Board Chairman Bill Meier welcoming attendees, providing an overview of the coop’s performance, and touching on 2024 strategic plans. Read more…

QCS Purchasing Cooperative Announces Finalists for the Prestigious QCS Leadership Awards
9/08/2023
QCS Purchasing Cooperative has named the finalists for their Member and Supply Partner Leadership Awards. Each year, the QCS Leadership Awards recognize those member companies and supply partners that have been the most engaged and made significant contributions to the QCS community. For the Member Companies Leadership Award, contributions are measured by the growth of total purchases through QCS programs and growth in the number of programs they participate in. For the Supply Partner Leadership Award, contributions are measured by the QCS Program Scorecard, which includes, among other criteria, volume growth, member participation, innovation, quality, and service. Read more…

QCS Purchasing Cooperative Announces Finalists for The Best Collaboration Award
9/08/2023
QCS Purchasing Cooperative has named the finalists for the Best Collaboration Awards. The QCS Best Collaboration Award celebrates partnerships between a member and a supply partner from within the QCS community to solve a problem or achieve a desired outcome. The Best Collaboration Award can go to a variety of joint efforts, such as a new packaging innovation, a new product launch, a cost-saving effort, or an operational improvement. Read more…

QCS Purchasing Cooperative Announces Finalists for the Inaugural Program Promotion Award
9/08/2023
QCS Purchasing Cooperative, a member-owned and managed as to not generate a profit buying group for companies engaged in food and beverage production, has named the finalists for their Supply Partner Program Marketing Award. QCS Supply Partner Program Promotion Award will honor QCS supply partner organizations’ creative QCS member-based marketing campaigns that communicate the provided value, benefits, and advantages to QCS members. Read more…

QCS Purchasing Cooperative Names Winners for Production Excellence
8/08/2023
QCS Purchasing Cooperative, a member-owned and managed as to not generate a profit buying group for companies engaged in food and beverage production, has named the winners for the Dairy Quality Excellence Awards. Amidst the current dairy industry landscape, which presents unprecedented challenges to the continuity of operations and the integrity of products, QCS recognizes the remarkable achievements of these award winners. They have showcased an outstanding capacity to navigate these hurdles while upholding an unmatched level of product excellence in various categories, including Fluid Milk, Extended Shelf Life (ESL) and Aseptic Milks, Cultured Products, and Ice Cream.  Read more…

QCS Purchasing Cooperative Announces Changes to the Board of Directors
7/12/23
The QCS Purchasing Cooperative, the largest member-owned buying group for companies engaged in food and beverage production, is excited to announce important changes to its board of directors.

After years of dedicated service, Diane Manganaro, the current chairman of the board, has decided to step down from her position as she prepares to retire from HP Hood at the end of August. Diane’s contributions and commitment to the QCS board have been invaluable, and we express our deepest gratitude for her leadership and many years of service. Under her guidance, QCS has achieved remarkable growth and success.  Read more…

The 2022 QCS Annual Conference Provided Tools, Resources & Support Structure to Thrive During Chance in Unprecedented Times
10/26/22
QCS Purchasing Cooperative wrapped up its first in-person post-merger Annual Conference on Oct. 11 in San Diego, CA. The three-day conference reinforced the value of being a member of QCS and part of the QCS community. With the food and beverage industry continuing to be impacted by challenges such as supply chain disruptions, inflation, shifting consumer demands, new developments on the regulatory front, labor shortages, the continuing effects of COVID-19, and increased pressure to provide sustainable products and be corporately responsible, the conference brought the tools, resources, solutions, and support structure for food and beverage manufacturers to navigate, succeed, and continue to “Thrive During Change,” – this year’s conference theme. Read more…

QCS Names Umpqua Dairy Products Company Winner of Prestigious Irving B. Weber Award
10/17/22
QCS Purchasing Cooperative announces this year’s recipient of the Irving B. Weber Distinguished Award for Quality Excellence is Umpqua Dairy Products Company of Roseburg, Oregon. The Irving B. Weber Award is the highest honor for plants participating in the QCS Dairy Quality Excellence Program and the finalist pool is comprised of plants that have won a Dairy Quality Excellence Award. The Irving B. Weber award recognizes the top-performing plant for superior product quality, as determined by scoring in the quality testing program, operational excellence as indicated by Global Food Safety Initiative audit standards, and outstanding employee safety practices. Read more…

QCS Announces 2022 Leadership, Collaboration, and Marketing Award Recipients
10/17/22
QCS Purchasing Cooperative, a member-owned and managed as to not generate a profit buying group for companies engaged in food and beverage production, has named the winners for their Leadership, Outstanding Marketing, and Best Collaboration Awards. The award winners were announced during the 3-day QCS Annual Conference, October 9-11, 2022, in San Diego, California. Read more…

QCS Announces 2022 Leadership Award Finalists
09/07/22
QCS Purchasing announces finalists for the Member & Supply Partner Leadership Awards. These awards recognize member companies and supply partners who, over the previous calendar year, have done the most to support the vision of QCS Purchasing. The winners of these awards will be announced during the Gala at the QCS Annual Conference on October 9-11, 2022, in San Diego, CA. View press release.

QCS Announces 2022 Best Collaboration Award Finalists
09/07/22
The QCS Best Collaboration Award celebrates partnerships between a member and a supply partner from within the QCS community to solve a problem or achieve a desired outcome. This award was created for those working together to promote the food and beverage industry. Judged by an independent supply chain industry expert, the Best Collaboration Award can go to a variety of joint efforts, such as a new packaging innovation, a new product launch, a cost-saving effort, or an operational improvement. The award winners will be announced during the Gala at the QCS Annual Conference October 9-11, 2022, in San Diego, CA. View press release.

QCS Announces 2022 Marketing Award Finalists
09/07/22
QCS Purchasing has named the finalists for their Outstanding Marketing Awards. These awards honor member and supply partner organizations that have launched creative marketing efforts and campaigns that effectively compete in the ever-changing food and beverage manufacturing industry. Judging for the marketing award competition was conducted independently by food and beverage industry leaders. The award winners will be announced during the Gala at the QCS Annual Conference October 9-11, 2022, in San Diego, CA. View press release.

QCS Purchasing Cooperative & Quality Chekd Dairies Hold Virtual Awards Ceremony for 2nd Consecutive Year
10/29/21
QCS Purchasing Cooperative and Quality Chekd Dairies, Inc., wrapped up their annual three-day QCS Leadership Conference on Thursday with an online awards presentation that recognized excellence in leadership, exceptional marketing, best collaborative efforts, and outstanding production and product quality. The award winners will be announced during the Virtual QCS Leadership Conference on October 28, 2021. View Press Release.

QCS Purchasing Cooperative Merger Creates Largest Purchasing Cooperative of its Kind
01/01/21
QCS Purchasing, LLC, Allied Purchasing, Quality Chekd Dairies, and South East Cooperative Organization (SECO) have announced the completed merger of their business operations to form the new QCS Purchasing Cooperative. The merger brought members, programs, operations, finances, staff, and all other business functions into one consolidated organization to create the largest purchasing cooperative of its kind. Members will not only have access to the same programs they have today, but will be introduced to new programs and services.

QCS Purchasing Cooperative will deliver additional savings and sourcing solutions to help members achieve lower costs on products and services. View Press Release

QCS 2020 Virtual Leadership Conference Provided Solutions to Members & Honored Industry Achievements
10/15/20
The virtual conference featured industry updates, category outlooks, an informative keynote presentation from Peter Sheahan, consumer trends, and a QCS State of the Union. Even though the three-day conference has ended, QCS and Quality Chekd will continue to keep their members and supply partners connected and engaged through additional virtual educational sessions, webinars and networking throughout the remainder of the year. View full press release.

QCS Purchasing Announces Recipients for 2020 Leadership Awards
10/15/20
QCS Purchasing, a member-owned, managed to not generate a profit supply-chain solutions provider for the food and beverage industry has named the winners for their Supply Partner Leadership Awards. The awards recognize QCS members and QCS supply partners who, over the previous calendar year, have done the most to support the vision of QCS Purchasing. 
Member Leadership Award Recipient – Galliker Dairy Company (read press release)
Member Leadership Award Recipient – Paletería La Michoacana (read press release)
Supply Partner Leadership Award Recipient – Source Wurx (read press release)

QCS Announces Collaboration Award Recipients 2020
10/15/2020
The QCS Best Collaboration Award celebrates partnerships between a member and a supply partner to solve a problem or achieve a desired outcome and goes to a variety of joint efforts such as a new packaging innovation, a new product launch, a cost-saving effort, or and operational improvement. The 2020 QCS Best Collaboration Award was given to one member company and one supply partner whose joint collaboration resulted in a more consumer-friendly and intuitive spouted, stand-up sour cream package. View Press Release.

QCS Announces 2020 Outstanding Marketing Campaign Winners
10/15/20
QCS Purchasing has named the winners for their Outstanding Marketing Awards. Judging for the marketing and collaboration awards competition was conducted independently by food and beverage marketing industry leaders. QCS Purchasing LLC. presented the Outstanding Marketing awards at the 2020 QCS Virtual Leadership Conference in October. View Press Release.

Quality Chekd Announces 2020 Winner of Irving B. Weber Award
10/15/2020
Quality Chekd Dairies, Inc., a member-owned organization that provides dairy processors with services to improve business success and production quality, is pleased to announce this year’s recipient of the Irving B. Weber Distinguished Award for Quality Excellence is Hiland Dairy Foods Company of Little Rock, Arkansas. Recognized as the highest honor for overall quality throughout the Quality Chekd organization, the honor distinguishes Hiland Dairy’s commitment to quality excellence in the categories of leadership, culture, production, sustainability, and business ethics. View Press Release.

Quality Chekd Dairies Names Winners for Production Excellence
10/15/2020
Quality Chekd Dairies, Inc., a member-owned organization of independent dairy processors, announced the recipients for its Production Excellence Awards, which recognize outstanding processors in three categories: fluid milk, cultured dairy and ice cream. The winners in each category are based on selection criteria that include a plant audit, evaluation of all plant processes and systems for assuring product quality evaluation results. For the first time we have two winners in the cultured products category. View Press Release