Challenge

As a fast-growing manufacturer of branded and customized protein solutions, Concord Premium Meats faced increasing demands for food safety compliance, operational efficiency, and document management. With over 900 employees and four production plants across Canada, the company needed a scalable solution to support its growth. Key challenges included:

• SQF certification requirements – A major client required Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification, necessitating a structured and well-documented food safety program.

• Expanding quality assurance needs – Business growth and workforce shortages made it crucial to optimize quality control processes.

• Paper-based documentation inefficiencies – Increased reliance on paper made document management cumbersome, slowing down access to critical food safety records.

Concord Premium Meats sought a comprehensive solution that would streamline compliance, improve efficiency, and support long-term growth.

Solution

Since 2011, Concord Premium Meats has partnered with Datahex to enhance food safety practices through consulting services and digital solutions. This multi-faceted approach included:

1. Consulting Services for Food Safety Compliance

• Guidance through a successful SQF certification process to meet client requirements.

• Regular HACCP program updates to maintain compliance with evolving industry standards.

• Ongoing training to ensure employees stay up to date with best practices in food safety.

2. Optimizing HACCP planning with MyHACCPPlan

To improve HACCP plan management and reduce manual workloads, Concord Premium Meats implemented MyHACCPPlan, a digital tool that streamlines food safety documentation. The software has enabled the company to:

• Accelerate HACCP plan development, making it easier to create and modify plans as needed.

• Ensure timely updates, keeping food safety procedures aligned with regulatory requirements.

• Automate report generation, allowing the Quality Assurance team to produce compliance documents efficiently.

3. Digital transformation with Paperless Forms

Recognizing the inefficiencies of paper-based record-keeping, Concord Premium Meats transitioned to Paperless Forms, a mobile data collection system designed for real-time food safety tracking. Key benefits included:

• Seamless integration with existing control sheets, ensuring a smooth transition for employees.

• Improved data accessibility, making it easier to retrieve and analyze food safety records.

• Better trend analysis using Power BI, with redesigned data extraction for performance monitoring.

• Ongoing support, with a responsive help desk and quick chat system for immediate assistance.

4. Future expansion with Supplyline

Concord Premium Meats is finalizing the implementation of Supplyline, a supplier documentation management system.

• This solution will centralize all supplier records for easier access and compliance tracking.

• Automated document request reminders will streamline workflows and reduce administrative tasks.

Results

By leveraging Datahex’s consulting expertise and digital solutions, Concord Premium Meats has achieved:

• Successful SQF certification to meet client demands and industry regulations.

• Improved efficiency in HACCP planning, reducing manual workload and ensuring compliance.

• Enhanced document management with easy access to critical food safety records.

• Faster and more accurate audits with digital data capture and reporting.

• Scalable systems that support ongoing growth and continuous improvement.

With a strong partnership built on expertise and innovation, Concord Premium Meats continues to optimize its operations, ensuring food safety excellence while staying ahead in a competitive industry.