To win the confidence of giant customers like Costco, John Wilk knew that HACCP would be a wise investment for his business.
In 2005, the Vice President of Mississauga-based Supreme Pierogies decided his company would begin the process of achieving HACCP (Hazardous Analysis Critical Control Point) accreditation, a world-recognized food safety system that results in consistent quality control at all critical points in the food chain. In a global business environment, it is increasingly important for companies like Supreme Pierogies to conform to international quality controls and safety standards.
"Getting the HACCP stamp of approval was a smart move," emphasises Wilk, who oversees the family-run business which manufactures "quality pierogies renowned for their freshness." The company's products are frozen in 20 minutes after being made, he explains. "The longest time that our products are stored is one week before they are sent to customers. So naturally, our priority is top quality control," he emphasizes.
Seek guidance from HACCP experts
For Wilk, the benefits of HACCP were clear from the get-go. "To compete in the market, you need that edge. HACCP gives your clients the added reassurance that you're selling healthy and safe foods." In its simplest form, HACCP helps companies reduce waste and spoilage, control costs, lower contamination risks, and build awareness of hygiene and safety for employees. "It also earns us global recognition, which is essential for expanding in new markets and exporting," he explains.
Supreme Pierogies worked closely with BDC Consulting to help develop and implement a fully integrated system, and the company expects to finalize its accreditation in the coming months. "It's a very detailed and meticulous process. We appreciated having an external point of view to assess our production line and see where we needed to improve. You can't leave any stones unturned," says Wilk. The HACCP system involves looking closely at everything in a production line, including recalls, deviations, shipping and receiving. "Once you've gone through the process, you know that you're meeting the highest standards for safety and quality systems. You're truly ready for an audit," he says.
Equipped for growth
Wilk knows what it means to grow a business and do it quickly. In 1991, there were a few family members making pierogies by hand in a basement. Today, the company has 20 employees working 18 hours a day, 6 days a week. His company financed new equipment through BDC, which offers clients a number of financing possibilities, whether it's purchasing or automating a production line or buying used or new equipment and retooling. BDC's long-term financing, in some cases, up to 125%, can also cover additional costs such as installation and training.
"Our volume had grown considerably, so we needed more sophisticated pinching and filling equipment to meet demands," says Wilk. He attributes much of the company's success to having invested in technological advances and improving production efficiencies. "We had to go from a small company to a medium-sized one. Putting technology on our side was essential," he stresses. For entrepreneurs looking to buy new equipment, Wilk recommends carefully evaluating their needs first. "For example, we bought equipment initially that didn't quite meet our quality demands. However, we took the time to reface our machinery and made sure that it delivered exactly what we wanted," he says.
Making space for growth
With HACCP accreditation nearly completed and efficient equipment to handle increasing demand for their product, Supreme Pierogies also had to accommodate their growing business with new space. Last year, the company financed an additional 7,000 square foot facility in Mississauga through BDC. "We have a long-term rapport with BDC. The bank has helped us with the full range of our financial and consulting needs," he says. BDC offers term financing that can fund an acquisition project from start to finish and provides entrepreneurs key advantages such as flexible repayment schedules and bridge financing to cover planning costs. Supreme Pierogies also took advantage of its real estate purchase to redesign a new plant layout using internal resources. "It all came together quite nicely for us. We wanted to maximize our investment and business opportunities," he concludes.
