Church Bros. names new food-safety leader

Church Brothers has hired Gurjit Shergill as its vice president of food safety, quality and regulatory compliance. Shergill has more than 20 years of experience in food safety and technical services, most recently for Earthbound Farms as vice president of food safety and quality.

Shergill has also held related positions with AeroFarms, The Acheson Group and Taylor Farms for the retail foodservice and deli division. Shergill started her career in the United Kingdom with major food manufacturers and then ran her own food and beverage consultancy group prior to moving to the U.S. to work for Taylor Farms. Her work has taken her to all corners of the globe with a focus on driving food safety standards.

Shergill received her bachelor's degree in biological sciences and master's in microbiology and biotechnology from the University of Wolverhampton in the U.K. Shergill is continuing her studies towards a PhD in food fraud preventive controls from the University of Central Lancashire in the U.K.

Shergill has also authored publications on Listeria guidance for the United Fresh Trade Association (now IFPA) and microbiological criteria in the U.K., along with co-authoring a journal article on controlling cross-contamination during the washing of fresh-cut leafy vegetables.

In her new role, Shergill will guide corporate food-safety activities, regulatory compliance, sanitation protocols and quality assurance policies ensuring Church Bros. continues to offer the same high safety and quality standards that it is known for.

“We are thrilled that Gurjit has joined the Church Brothers team," said Brian Church, CEO at Church Bros. "Gurjit’s experience will be critical in leading our food safety, quality and regulatory compliance activities across our multiple growing regions, facilities, and extensive field and value-added product lines to support our strategic growth plans”