FoodPak Ltd.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the procurement and supply coordinator. I purchase the products that we need and any supplies required for production, maintenance. We’re a poultry processing plant that grows the birds on our own farms, processes them, packages them, and ships them.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Foodpak Ltd?

We’ve been working with them for around ten years, and we go to them for some of our packaging needs. We process different types of birds so each type has its own packaging based on size and end result we’re looking for. Foodpak has a variety of products available that help meet our needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They help us with both the creation of the packaging and the look of it. We get several types of whole bird bags from Foodpak, as well as vacuum bags, which we use for our parts: breasts and thighs and things like that. Being able to have a company with a variety of products is a plus for us since we don’t have to go to multiple other companies.

Most of our packaging has our graphics on it and the regulatory information, along with safe-handling and cooking instructions. We create all the information and then work with Foodpak’s in-house designer to put together a final product. If need be, if we have any special projects, I’ll work with Foodpak to get the exact right product we’re looking for.

Right now, we’re working on getting a vacuum bag of a specific size and thickness. We’ll test what they give us and then they’ll make changes if we need them.

What is the team composition?

We have a single point of contact we work with.

How did you come to work with Foodpak Ltd?

They approached us. We get approached all the time on the packaging side of things because vendors know how much we rely on affordable packaging.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $300,000 in total, though they yearly price changes depending on what we’re doing.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since January 2010.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

From my perspective, anything they make the process of acquiring and getting the product here seamless. It makes my life a lot easier. If there’s a special request, they work very hard to try and accommodate that.

How did Foodpak Ltd perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive to calls, emails, and meetings. Before COVID-19, their rep visited us on-site once a month or bi-weekly, whether it was a courtesy visit or to drop products off.

The single point of contact helps with continuity of information. If we want to revisit something six months later we won’t have to re-educate anyone. Foodpak is very proactive in providing us with detail and making sure what we have is working for us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The account rep is very personable, as well as on the ball when it comes to understanding our needs and helping out. We don’t have to babysit the relationship, either. I know that I’ll get a response in less than a day when I submit an order, and they’ll provide an expected timeline.

Printed products have a 4-6-week lead time, which requires planning on my part that they support. They’ll reach out and ask if I need anything, but not in a heavy-handed way. They're always making sure I have what I need.

In our business, if the packaging doesn’t work out you have to find a new supplier. Packaging is critical, so our ten-year relationship with Foodpak says a lot about them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’ve done a good job of identifying and acting on areas of opportunity, so, at this point, I’m happy with the relationship. They’re our go-to company for packaging because they’re reliable. Other companies will cold-call me from time to time with the same product but I don’t have a relationship with them. I value my relationship with Foodpak. They immediately address anything I point out.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have your idea in mind, know what you need to do, and be prepared to work with them. There’s too much variety in packaging to not know what you want. Lean on their expertise as well.