Lodi Nut Company, Inc.

Lodi Nut Company, Inc. was founded as Stone Nut Company in 1919. The company was purchased in 1949 by Theodore Hochhalter and has been owned and operated by his family for the past 52 years. Calvin (Kelly) Suess, a son-in-law to the founder, is President. Virgil Suess, another son-in-law, holds the position of Executive Vice President. Verla Suess and Della Suess serve as secretary and treasurer respectively. Rocky Suess, a third generation family member, serves as Vice President for Production.

Currently, Lodi Nut Company, Inc. operates eight separate production departments in two locations. These departments include:

• retail packaging

• macadamia processing

• custom dicing and sizing

• customer separation processing

• shell grinding

• roasting

• retail and mail order sales

Lodi Nut Company's long history and experience in the nut industry give it a competitive advantage in all aspects of tree nut processing. Much of the equipment has been engineered and constructed by the firm. In addition, all processing equipment is constantly being upgraded to provide state-of-the-art status to production capabilities. Because of Lodi's expertise in specialized roasting (both oil and dry,) dicing, and sizing of nut kernels, several of California's largest nut processors have engaged the company to co-pack for their firms.

Lodi's packaging equipment include:
                    - CANCO Seamers
                        Can Sizes (Diameter) 211, 307, 401 and 603
                        Vacuum and Nitrogen Flush Capabilities
                         PET Jar Filling Line
                    - Form/Fill/Seal (Bagging Machines)
                        Hayssen Ultama
                    - Weighing Device
                        Yamato - Microcomputer Combination Weighers
                        Ishida - Microcomputer Combination Weighers

Lodi Nut Company aggressively pursues high standards in quality control and sanitation. Procedures that are currently in place include:
laboratory analysis of incoming and outgoing produce

• sampling and laboratory analysis of in-process product

• regular unannounced sanitation inspections by independent consultants

• rodent control inspections and documentation

• written standard procedures for all processing operations

• visual inspection and electronic metal detection of all finished product

To insure the highest degree of quality control possible, Lodi Nut Company has a full quality assurance laboratory on site, headed by Mr. Dave Pedro.

In addition, Lodi Nut Company is in the process of developing a total quality management program to utilize the high experience level of our production level employees.

In April 2000, Lodi was awarded the 47th Annual Honor Roll Awards for consistent sanitation achievement by Food and Drug Service, a private inspection and consultation firm. In addition, many food manufactures, including Haagen Dazs Ice Cream, Pepperidge Farm, Heinz, Inc., Blue Diamond Growers, Diamond Walnut Growers, Inc., Mac Farms of Hawaii, See's Candies, Safeway Stores, Costco/Price, Hershey Chocolate Co., Dreyer's Ice Cream Co., and Kraft Foods (Knudsen) have approved Lodi as a supplier of nut products.

For well over 50 years Lodi Nut Company has been committed to supplying its customers with the finest product possible through, on-going research, up-to-date processing techniques, and consistent quality assurance and sanitation achievement. The company is a family owned and managed business, large enough to meet the requirements of large volume customers, but small enough to insure attention to every detail.