Denver, CO. September 20, 2021 -- Gem City Fine Foods, a gluten- and nut-free commercial bakery in West Valley City, UT, with administrative offices in Laramie, WY, has been honored as Runner Up in the 2021 Utah Ethical Business Leadership Awards. The Gem City Team received recognition Friday morning, September 17, at an awards breakfast at the David Eccles School of Business on the University of Utah campus.
Two organizations in each category, Business, Non-Profit and Government, received awards from within a very competitive pool of contenders. Gem City’s finalist status was based on transparency demonstrated and trust gained with customers during a recent voluntary mislabeling recall. In a video interview Operations Manager Liam Chenail explained though the mislabel was not a food safety risk, the decision to recall, despite financial costs, was made with peace of mind to the celiac, gluten sensitive and food allergic consumer the company serves as priority. Gem City Packaging Lead DJ Williams emphasized the need for ethics over profits in business particularly when serving a consumer with specific dietary needs.
Zion’s Bank was awarded the top spot for the Business category, for a cash back program instituted during the Covid-19 pandemic to assist the stricken local restaurant industry. “Last year was a great one for highlighting community concern and action to help others,” said Gem City CEO Lisa Cox. “No doubt there was a large pool of ethical organizations displaying community concern during the pandemic, and we are honored to be Runner Up in Utah.” She added a reminder that, “We serve those with very distinct dietary needs every single day, and no matter how challenging the pandemic has been to us as a small business in the food industry, the safety and trust of that final consumer is always our top priority.”
The Utah Ethical Leadership Awards program is a collaboration among the Daniels Fund, founded by visionary entrepreneur and leader Bill Daniels, Greeley, CO native, the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business and the Community Foundation of Utah. Utah Ethical Leadership awards are based on exemplary demonstration of the following Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative principles:
Integrity – Act with honesty in all situations
Trust – Build trust in all stakeholder relationships
Accountability – Accept responsibility for all decisions
Transparency – Maintain open and truthful communications
Fairness – Engage in fair competition and create equitable and just relationships
Respect – Honor the rights, freedoms, views and property of others
Rule of Law – Comply with the spirit and intent of laws and regulations