GSF Earns Top Food Safety and Quality Honor at Taco Bell’s STAR Awards

Pictured above: The GSF team Mariana Manole, Senior Vice President, Global Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory, Shelly Davis, Director of Sales, National Accounts, Karin DeChristopher, Director of Sales, National Accounts, and Fred Heurtin, Senior Corporate Chef accepted the 2025 Food Safety and Quality STAR Award from Yum! Brands leaders, including Sean Tresvant, Chief Executive Officer, Taco Bell Division, and Chief Consumer Officer, Yum! Brands, Inc., Liz Matthews, Global Chief Food Innovation Officer, Taco Bell Division, and Roger Larsh, Chief Procurement Officer, Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions, during the STAR Awards ceremony in San Francisco.

At the Taco Bell 2025 STAR Awards ceremony in San Francisco on April 30, Golden State Foods (GSF) earned the customer’s Food Safety and Quality Award. Taco Bell leaders recognized the GSF team for clear dedication to protecting guests and the brand.

STAR, short for Supplier Tracking Assessment and Recognition, highlights partners that protect consumers through disciplined practices and clear accountability. Prioritizing strong systems and forward‑looking decisions, GSF performed above expectations while navigating complex processes.

Early awareness made the difference. Food safety and quality teams spotted potential concerns quickly and moved with purpose. Rapid response, clear messaging, and decisive follow‑through protected consumers while maintaining seamless supply flow. Each step reflected ownership and responsibility across product development, sales, operations, quality assurance, and compliance functions.

Beyond production floors, GSF contributed industry leadership through collaboration, technical engagement, and open knowledge exchange. These efforts strengthened programs, deepened partnerships, and promoted a culture that rewards transparency and sound judgment over shortcuts. Focused on mutual success with the customer, GSF teams delivered reliability, protected confidence, and set a higher bar for food safety and quality excellence.

“Congratulations to the entire Liquid Products North America team on this outstanding achievement,” said Mariana Manole, Senior Vice President, Global Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory. “This recognition would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of every GSF associate. Your commitment to food safety, quality, and doing the right thing every day is key to how we support Taco Bell's success.”