Nibletz Staff
Do you have a fantastic recipe that you think might make it on the grocery store shelves? If so, why not give it a go? Hundreds of new food products appear every year, and the next success story could well be yours.
However, before you start producing your new product by the ton, there are some important things to consider. We’re going to go through some of the most vital points with you today – so read on to find out more.
Scaling and taste
The first issue is – can you scale production of your product to meet demand? It’s one thing cooking a fantastic meal for your friends, but another entirely for selling it on the general market. You will need to find somewhere that can produce your product in bulk. Plus, you might also need to change the recipe slightly.
For example, the fresh pasta sauce you create might taste amazing right now, but what happens when you add preservatives? They are vital for giving your sauce a longer shelf life, but will adding to the ingredients make it too salty or sweet?
Supply chain
Once you have made your food product, how are you going to get it out there? If you are selling at local markets and festivals, it isn’t much of a problem. But, what happens when you get into the big supermarket chains? Without robust supply chain planning, you could eat up a lot of your potential profit.
There are plenty of risks involved with delivery, too. Adverse weather conditions, price wars, supplier prices – they can happen without a moment’s notice. Insurance can help, of course, but it is vital to start as you mean to go on and look at all areas of your supply chain to identify potential problems.
Contamination and spoilage
As a food business, you will need strict sanitation controls in place. All areas of your food production areas need to be clean at all times, or you risk contamination and spoilage. Cleanliness must run through all areas of your business, from your worker’s hands to the machinery and pipes.
Most manufacturing premises will have their own safeguards in place. But, if you plan on opening a factory yourself, it’s worth getting it right from the very start. Stainless steel piping and storage are essential, for example. The likes of Techsouth orbital welding products can help, too. Combine them with clean welding techniques and you will ensure sanitation. It should give you a clean base from which to operate, and ensure any contamination won’t end up with an expensive lawsuit.
Food safety issues
No matter how much effort you put into cleanliness, contamination can – and does – happen. It could be through accident or malicious means, but the important thing is always to be ready.
Have an emergency plan in place, which should include product recall details, and disaster recovery plans. A single incident can lead to serious problems for your business, but you can avert much of the damage by responding quickly and with a plan in place.
As you can see, there is a lot to think about when it comes to producing food on a massive scale – and it isn’t for the faint of heart. But, with proper planning, there’s no reason why you can’t reduce many of the risks associated with the food production business.
