SANDPOINT ­— Litehouse, Inc., a 100-percent employee-owned company and the top refrigerated salad dressing brand in Canada and the U.S., has promoted Dorrie Francis to vice president of technical services.

Francis will oversee food safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, and research and development teams at Litehouse. Acknowledging the importance of this role within the company, Francis, who has been with Litehouse since 2013, will join the company’s executive leadership team and report directly to President and CEO Jim Frank.

A graduate of Kansas State University with a master’s degree in food science, Francis has more than 17 years of progressive food industry experience with responsibilities encompassing areas of R&D, regulatory, and food safety management. Under her leadership, Litehouse earned the Safe Quality Food Level 3 certification for its Simply Artisan Reserve’s manufacturing plant, the industry’s highest and most rigorous safety achievement.

Francis has earned many industry certifications, including an American Society for Quality Certified Six Sigma Black Belt. She is active in the food industry and currently serves on the Association of Dressings and Sauces (ADS) Executive Technical Board.

“As a leader in our industry, we are committed to continuously investing in resources that elevate our quality standards and exceed our customers’ expectations,” said Jim Frank, Litehouse President and CEO. “The standards and quality of our products are our top priority and we recognize the need to have these services represented at the top level of our company. In addition, we are fortunate to have Dorrie’s expertise and leadership to guide our fast-growing brand as we continue to provide best in class innovation and lead the industry by producing products that meet the needs of ever-changing consumer trends.”

“Litehouse’s growth is a direct reflection on the company’s dedication to product innovation, powered by our investment in state-of-the-art facilities,” added Francis. “I am proud to lead a team dedicated to quality excellence and partner with a company that values the importance of technical and product innovation.”

Francis is a proud and active member of the Sandpoint community where she lives with her husband and three children.

Litehouse, Inc. started in the Hope, Idaho restaurant of the Hawkins family over 50 years ago. Since that time, it has become the leader in refrigerated salad dressings, dips, sauces, herbs, and cheese, manufacturing products at its three U.S. facilities based in Michigan, Utah and Idaho.

Litehouse offers its diverse portfolio of products through general retail, e-commerce, foodservice, deli, member stores, and value-added goods where Litehouse products are featured in meal and salad kits. Litehouse is proud to be 100 percent employee-owned and each one of the employee owners carries on the high standards of quality and innovation. For more information, visit www.LitehouseFoods.com, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.