5 Generation Bakers Wins 2017 Food Quality & Safety Award

Dough, post-cutting, getting ready to enter the ovens.

Image credit: Bob Gelston

5GB employs an LVO RW rack washer modified to fit the company’s ovens and cooling racks. This rack washer is constructed of 14-gauge stainless steel, which is designed for use in bakeries to clean racks, pots, pans, bowls, and utensils. “The heating elements in the rack washer’s rinse tank boost the rinse water to a sanitizing 180 degrees Fahrenheit at the inlet of this machine,” Beccard notes.

A Knight ControlGuard FCS, a concentration control and pump system engineered specifically for chemical feed applications, compliments 5GB’s rack washer. “By utilizing flow meter technology, the advanced chemical concentration system measures high concentrations of caustic, acid rinse water with an extremely high degree of accuracy (+/- 2 percent), thereby ensuring precise chemical feed control,” Beccard relates.

Nitco’s Hyster motorized hand lift trucks offer 5GB the key advantage that a load can be picked up, moved, and dropped gently into position quickly, safely, and efficiently. This minimizes slowdowns in production, Beccard says. “Another benefit is that the motorized hand trucks minimize employee fatigue, and thus play a role in preventing injuries,” she adds.

When it comes to keeping the 5GB floor clean, Beccard says Tennant ec-H20 NanoClean technology converts water into an innovative cleaning solution, through creation of microscopic nanobubbles via an on-board e-cell that cleans effectively, saves money, and reduces environmental impact eliminating daily floor cleaning chemicals.

Sanitation Upgrades

“After an in-depth review of our sanitation program in January and February 2017, we determined that our sanitation chemicals for cleaning manufacturing equipment were not meeting the stringent standards we had established,” Baker says. “Based on our program review, we chose to partner with Rochester Midland Corporation (RMC) for our sanitation needs effective March 1, 2017. RMC was selected for their ability to provide solutions across all aspects of food safety, including brand protection and sustainable solutions.”

Because of this partnership, Baker relates, 5GB made an investment in a new foaming system to clean its ovens and large mixing bowls. “The foaming system is designed to enhance chemical adhesion and retention time to improve the sanitation process,” Baker elaborates. “The foam adheres to the surface and allows a longer time for the chemical to do its job.”

Clothing is not overlooked in 5GB’s sanitation program. “Essential to our Good Manufacturing Practices is the proper sanitation of our employee garments,” Baker emphasizes. “A recent evaluation of this program led to our investment in Total HACCP Solution from Aramark Uniform Services to deliver hygienically clean uniforms. We believe this investment will play a critical role in reducing the potential of cross-contamination and enhance the integrity of our food safety program.”

Customer Satisfaction is Everything

5GB continually strives to blend excellence with cutting-edge technology and prevailing knowledge when producing its products.

Image credit: Bob Gelston

For the 5GB team, the success of the company’s investments in QA and food safety tools and technology is measured in large part by customer satisfaction, Baker relates. “We take pride in our consistently low number of complaints,” he says. “In 2016, we were faced with a total of five consumer complaints in comparison to the 54,780 cases of bread sold from January through May 15, 2016. The same time frame in 2017 resulted in just two complaints compared to 66,980 cases of bread sold.”
Each complaint to 5GB is addressed immediately and a full investigation is completed to determine the root cause. Once the issue has been determined and a resolution been put into place, the consumer is contacted personally by Beccard or Baker.