Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. About Dawn
2. Contacting Us
3. Diverse Suppliers
4. Product Details
5. Sales & Ordering
6. Shipping & Distribution
7. Weight Watchers

About Dawn

Does Dawn Foods donate products?

Dawn Foods currently donates food products to local food pantries and organizations. Please see our Social Responsibility page for more information.

Is Dawn Foods a publicly traded company?

No. Dawn Foods is a family-owned business.

Does Dawn Foods have exhibits at trade shows?

Yes. Dawn participates in various trade shows and events around the world. Please see our U.S. Trade Shows & Events page for a list of upcoming events.

How many locations does Dawn Foods have?

Dawn Foods currently has more than 50 sites around the world. For a complete list of Dawn’s locations, please see our Distribution page.

Contacting Us

How can I contact Dawn Foods?

Dawn Foods Home Offices are located in Jackson, Michigan. You can call us at 1-866-277-3663 (East) or 1-866-459-8130 (West) , or write to us at 3333 Sargent Rd., Jackson, Michigan 49201. You can also fill out our online form to have someone contact you.

How do I get in contact with a sales professional or distribution center in my area?

Please call us 1-866-277-3663 (East) or 1-866-459-8130 (West) and we’ll connect you with the distribution center servicing your area, or fill out our online form to have someone contact you.

Can you connect me to someone who speaks French/Spanish?

Yes. Please call us at 1-866-277-3663 (East) or 1-866-459-8130 (West) and we will put you in contact with someone who speaks French/Spanish.

Diverse Suppliers

What is a diverse supplier?

A diverse supplier is defined as a U.S. privately held company that is 51% owned and operated by a woman, minority, veteran or person with a disability. The following categories make up the Dawn Food Products list: Women, African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, Native American/Native Alaskan, Veterans, Disabled Veterans, People with Disabilities. In order to be considered a diverse vendor, your company must have the appropriate certification credentials from an approved certifying agency.

How do I become a diverse supplier to Dawn?

Diverse suppliers (Tier I) should complete the capability profile form and submit a copy of their diverse certification. The profile will be maintained in Dawn’s Supplier Diversity Database (i.e. SharePoint) for the Procurement organization. To be considered you must be certified by a third party agency and meet Dawn’s criteria and requirements for sourcing selection.

Suppliers are considered based on capabilities match. A company will be contacted only if their capability profile matches a current sourcing need being quoted. Potential suppliers may be asked to participate in requests for proposals and other forms of purchases.

What are qualifications to become a diverse supplier to Dawn?

There will be no special qualification standards established for diverse suppliers. Diverse suppliers will be vetted in the same manner as all other Dawn suppliers, they must meet the same “quality and commercial standards” as all other Dawn suppliers, including:

Quality questionnaire for materials/packaging suppliers
3rd party audits for ingredient suppliers
Insurance
Financial Ratings (D&B)
National Minority Suppliers Development Council (NMSDC): www.nmsdc.org
Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC): www.wbenc.org
U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN) Disability Supplier Diversity Program: www.usbln.org
Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Veterans Enterprise: www.vetbiz.gov
U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC): http://www.uspaacc.com/
Federal Government
Local Government
DD Form 214

We will not pay a premium to do business with diverse suppliers. They will be at parity (equal to) or better than incumbent suppliers.

Can I be considered as a diverse vendor if I am not certified as a diverse business or am self-certified?

Dawn does not accept self-certification. See below for approved certifying agencies for diverse businesses.

How do I get certified?

Certification means that your company has documentation from a third party agency verifying that it is at least 51% owned and operated by a minority, woman, or veteran that is a U.S. citizen. See below for approved certifying agencies for diverse businesses. Each agency has specific criteria for their certification requirements. You are only required to have one certification.

Does Dawn only work with large companies?

Dawn works with companies of all sizes and in varying geographies.

How often are contracts renewed?

Contract terms vary by commodity and service. Contracts are renewed based on procurement sourcing strategy and business needs.

Approved Diverse Supplier Certifying Agencies

National Minority Suppliers Development Council (NMSDC): www.nmsdc.org
Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC): www.wbenc.org
U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN) Disability Supplier Diversity Program: www.usbln.org
Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Veterans Enterprise: www.vetbiz.gov
U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC): http://www.uspaacc.com/
Federal Government
Local Government
DD Form 214

Who should I contact if I have any questions about Dawn’s supplier diversity program?

Please submit all questions in writing to supplierdiversity@dawnfoods.com. Please include your complete contact information in your note.

Product Details

Can you send me a catalog of your products?

In accordance with our sustainability efforts and to ensure our customers have the latest information on our products, we no longer offer a printed catalog. Please check out our Products page or contact a Dawn sales professional who can email you a PDF listing of our manufactured products.

Can you give me pricing on what I am interested in?

Pricing is available through your Dawn sales professional, or you can call us at 1-866-277-3663 (East) or 1-866-459-8130 (West) and we can connect you with the distribution center servicing your area. Or fill out our online form to have someone contact you.

How can I get specifications, nutrition, kosher, COA and other documents for Dawn products?

Please contact your Dawn sales professional or fill out the online form to have someone contact you.

Are Dawn’s bakery products kosher?

Yes. Each U.S. Dawn Foods manufacturing plant is under kosher supervision. Please contact your Dawn sales professional for a copy of our kosher certificate or fill out the online form to have someone contact you.

Are your products plant based or animal based?

Because Dawn Foods facilities are kosher-certified, we do not use pork products. Some of our products do contain eggs and milk, but are for the most part plant based.

Do you use GMOs?

Dawn Foods currently produces some non-GMO icings and fillings that are available for use in the UK and European Union.

Are Dawn’s manufacturing facilities nut free?

The manufacturing plants in Jackson, MI, and Seattle, WA, are completely nut free. Our other U.S. manufacturing facilities have some nut-free lines, but all use nuts somewhere in the facility.

What is the shelf life of Dawn products?

Shelf life varies depending on the product. Please contact your Dawn sales professional for information on shelf life or fill out the online form to have someone contact you.

What is the shelf life for icing once it is opened?

Seven (7) days at room temperature. However, products can also be frozen and thawed, as long as allowed to come to room temperature naturally.

How do I read the lot code on Dawn products?

Please contact your Dawn sales professional or call us at 1-866-277-3663 (East) or 1-866-459-8130 (West) , or fill out the online form to have someone contact you.

What is the source of Dawn’s shortenings?

The shortenings Dawn Foods uses in manufacturing are sourced mainly from soybean and cottonseed oils or other vegetable sources. We do not use animal-based shortenings.

I currently make my own items, but my business is growing too rapidly to keep up. Would it be possible for Dawn to start mass producing this for me?

Please call us at 1-866-277-3663 (East) or 1-866-459-8130 (West) , and we’ll connect you with someone who can help. Or you can fill out our online form to have someone contact you.

Sales & Ordering

How do I buy Dawn products? / How can I become a Dawn customer?

You can call us at 1-866-277-3663 (East) or 1-866-459-8130 (West) and we’ll connect you with the distribution center servicing your area, or you can fill out our online form to have someone contact you.

Do you sell to the general public?

Dawn Foods does not sell to the general public. However, we may be able to help determine where you can find Dawn products. Please fill out our online form to have someone contact you.

Can I order directly from Dawn?

You can call us at 1-866-277-3663 (East) or 1-866-459-8130 (West) or fill out our online form to have someone contact you. If you are a business, we’ll connect you with the distribution center servicing your area.

Can I pay for my order with a credit card?

Yes, Dawn Foods accepts Visa^®, MasterCard^®, and American Express^®

What are your order minimums?

Order minimums vary by location. Please call us at 1-866-277-3663 (East) or 1-866-459-8130 (West) and we’ll connect you with the distribution center servicing your area, or fill out our online form to have someone contact you.

What are Dawn’s payment terms?

Payment terms are determined based on the financial information provided in your credit application.

Does Dawn accept will-call/customer pickup orders?

Yes. Your local Dawn Distribution Center can provide their hours of operation.

What is Dawn’s lead-time to place an order?

Lead-time varies by market. However, 48 hours is the typical advance notice required.

Where can I get P.O.P. material on Dawn’s products?

Please contact your Dawn sales professional or fill out the online form to have someone contact you.

Shipping & Distribution

Do you ship internationally?

Yes, Dawn Foods is a global company and we service internationally. Please contact 1-800-248-1144 to be contacted to our Export Department.

Where do my orders come from?

Please call us at 1-800-292-1362 and we will look this information up for you.

Are Dawn Distribution Centers independently owned and operated?

No. Each Dawn Distribution Center is owned and operated by Dawn Foods.

Weight Watchers

Where can I purchase Weight Watchers sweet baked products?

Please call us at 1-877-519-2824 or visit http://www.wwproductlocator.com/index.aspx to find Weight Watchers products in your area.

Can I buy Weight Watchers products directly from you?

We cannot sell Weight Watchers products directly to the public.

Have you discontinued your Weight Watchers crème cakes or coffee cakes?

Please call us at 1-877-519-2824 to inquire or visit http://www.wwproductlocator.com/index.aspx to find the Weight Watchers products currently available in your area.

Why are you not the ones to put the “sell by” date on Weight Watchers items if you make them?

Our Weight Watchers products are delivered to stores in a frozen state. Once removed from the freezer, the shelf life of the product in ambient form begins and is good for 60 days. Since Dawn has no way of knowing when the store will stock their shelves, it is the store’s responsibility to date the products appropriately.

Why are certain stores no longer carrying Weight Watchers products (i.e., Walmart)?

Dawn has a wide range of Weight Watchers items available for purchase. If you are interested in a specific item being carried, please talk to your store manager and request that item be brought in.

How do I contact you about a Weight Watchers product?

You can call us at 1-877-519-2824, or write to us at 3333 Sargent Rd., Jackson, Michigan 49201, Attn: Regulatory Affairs.