Kroger, Murray's Cheese Associates Get Certified

Twenty associates from The Kroger Co. and eight Murray's Cheese employees have been named Certified Cheese Professionals (CCPs) by the American Cheese Society (ACS), breaking the companies' previous records of 13 Kroger associates and four Murray's Cheese workers who attained the coveted title last year.

There are currently 52 CCPs in the Kroger and Murray's family. To become a CCP, one must pass an exam created by the Denver-based society. Before being permitted to take the exam, applicants must have completed 4,000 hours of work and/or formal education in the cheese field.

"We are not only proud of these distinguished individuals and their professional achievement, but also of the industry's adoption of the ACS CCP designation as the standard for cheese professionals," noted Nora Weiser, executive director of the American Cheese Society. "The entire cheese industry – from cheesemaker to consumer – benefits from the understanding, education and professionalism of ACS CCPs. They are a testament to the growth, quality and passion of today's American cheese scene."

Through an exclusive partnership with Murray's Cheese, an artisanal cheese and specialty food retailer based in New York City's Greenwich Village, Kroger has 210 Murray's counters in stores nationwide.

Cincinnati-based Kroger operates 2,626 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names, including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's.