employees and resulting in better training, lower turnover and greater efficiency.
      We continue to strengthen our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce. In 2008, we created a Diversity Executive Steering Committee to work closely with our existing Diversity Council. We established a vice president of global talent management to develop robust processes in support of our employee development and succession planning globally. Additionally, we rolled out our Global Learning Network to employees in Canada, the U.K. and France.

 
      Concern for one another is a key shared value, and that concern extends to the communities where we work. For the past 20 years, for example, our global sourcing team has assisted farmers in becoming sustainable and economically viable. In addition, once a year many employees work an additional eight hours and donate their earnings – which are matched by the Company – to local charities. And in 2008, we announced the fourth annual winner of the McCormick Community Service Award which honors the volunteer efforts of our employees around the world.   continued>>