Sun-Maid Proves Recall Practice Makes Perfect
The Sun-Maid Girl’s look has been modernized over the years, but the likeness has stayed true to the original image created in 1912, giving Sun-Maid unrivaled brand recognition around the world. Yet, Sun-Maid’s big brand doesn’t mean big-business farming. For close to a century, the company has embraced the benefits that come with smaller, family-owned farms.
“Many of our growers are multi-generation farmers,” explains John Slinkard, vice president of Supply Chain, Sun-Maid. “We’re like a family business with a strong brand to protect.”
A Perfect Track Record
Sun-Maid has never had a product recall, but that doesn’t mean the company isn’t prepared for one.
“A few years ago, we had some withdrawals — cosmetic issues that we felt didn’t live up to Sun-Maid standards,” says Slinkard. “For example, some of our apricots were a bit dark. They were perfectly fine to eat, but we didn’t want to disappoint consumers so we withdrew them.”
During the withdrawals, Sun-Maid worked through its network of brokers to notify retailers.
“We would inform our brokers, and then they would communicate to our retailers, asking for confirmation,” explains Mary Terjeson, vice president of Trade Funds & Sales Administration, Sun-Maid. “While our brokers were very responsive, it still took extra time since we didn’t have a direct connection to our retailers.”
Terjeson and Slinkard knew the process could be improved, making withdrawals better and faster. In 2008, Slinkard heard that GS1 US, in collaboration with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), was developing an online recall service. Now called the Rapid Recall Exchange, the tool allows a supplier to efficiently send an e-mail message to their retailers 24/7, alerting them about a product recall or market withdrawal.
“Food safety has always been a priority for Sun-Maid,” says Slinkard. “When we heard about the concept of a recall service that everyone could benefit from, we signed up to help make it a reality.”
He adds, “If we had to do a recall, I’m confident Rapid Recall Exchange would perform flawlessly for us.”
Creating a Perfect Tool
As a major contributor to the Rapid Recall Exchange, Sun-Maid points to some of the features that make it an important part of the company’s product recall and market withdrawal process. For example, Rapid Recall Exchange eliminates any confusion about products being recalled or withdrawn.
“It gives us one source to deliver comprehensive and accurate withdrawal information to all of our retailers, yet we can also target a specific retailer, providing information that applies to only them,” adds Slinkard. “It would be a significant time saver for us, and our retailers would not waste time on products they do not carry.”
Perhaps the biggest benefit for Sun-Maid is the ability for dialogue with retailers.
“With Rapid Recall Exchange, we will know which retailers receive and open our notification, and when. They can come back to us with questions and advise us of their actions,” comments Terjeson. “And the fact that all this information is together in one place is very important.”
Tracing Each Step
Leaving nothing to chance, Sun-Maid conducts mock recalls several times a year. The process starts with tracing the identified product lot back to the grower.
To do this, Slinkard describes how Sun-Maid uses GS1 standards in its supply chain: “Our growers deliver the raisins in bins with EPC-enabled RFID tags. We clean the raisins, add some moisture, and package them in cartons, boxes or bags and uniquely identify them with Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs). The GTINs are encoded in a UPC barcode and applied to each item. These individual items are packed together in cases with ITF-14 barcodes, which also carry GTINs. The pallets have license plate barcodes on them so we can track them as well.”
The next step would be to notify brokers and retailers. Rapid Recall Exchange is an integral part of this. While an e-mail is not sent to retailers during a mock recall, Sun-Maid has thoroughly tested the Rapid Recall Exchange service.
“We’re focused on getting more and more retailers to join so that we can utilize its full potential,” says Slinkard. “We’re helping to raise awareness by reaching out to our retailers. I’m convinced if they learn about the service, they will be eager to sign up!”
The major measurement for Sun-Maid mock recalls is time: “We have a targeted timeframe, which is measured in hours, for our traces,” says Slinkard. “We’ve been 100 percent successful in our ability to perform traces.”
With Rapid Recall Exchange, GS1 Standards and its people in place, Sun-Maid is prepared to perform a successful withdrawal, or if needed, a recall at any time. “Our plan is to never have to use Rapid Recall Exchange” says Slinkard. “But, if we ever do, we’re confident it will help us be successful.”
FAST FACTS
Words of Wisdom
“We haven’t had a recall, but we have always had a recall and
withdrawal plan.” — John Slinkard, Vice President of Supply Chain, Sun-Maid
Company at a Glance
Sun-Maid is a cooperative owned by nearly 1,000 family farmers who grow raisin grapes in California’s fertile San Joaquin Valley. In addition to healthy raisins, Sun-Maid offers a full line of dried fruits and even yogurt-coated items in the Unites States and 57 other countries.
Track & Trace Tools
By using GS1 standards like Global Trade Item Numbers and EPC-enabled RFID tags, Sun-Maid can trace its raisins back to the grower. This speeds the recall/withdrawal process.
Always Prepared
Sun-Maid conducts mock product recalls several times each year to always be prepared. The company continually aims to improve its process, making it faster and better.
“Many of our growers are multi-generation farmers,” explains John Slinkard, vice president of Supply Chain, Sun-Maid. “We’re like a family business with a strong brand to protect.”
A Perfect Track Record
Sun-Maid has never had a product recall, but that doesn’t mean the company isn’t prepared for one.
“A few years ago, we had some withdrawals — cosmetic issues that we felt didn’t live up to Sun-Maid standards,” says Slinkard. “For example, some of our apricots were a bit dark. They were perfectly fine to eat, but we didn’t want to disappoint consumers so we withdrew them.”
During the withdrawals, Sun-Maid worked through its network of brokers to notify retailers.
“We would inform our brokers, and then they would communicate to our retailers, asking for confirmation,” explains Mary Terjeson, vice president of Trade Funds & Sales Administration, Sun-Maid. “While our brokers were very responsive, it still took extra time since we didn’t have a direct connection to our retailers.”
Terjeson and Slinkard knew the process could be improved, making withdrawals better and faster. In 2008, Slinkard heard that GS1 US, in collaboration with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), was developing an online recall service. Now called the Rapid Recall Exchange, the tool allows a supplier to efficiently send an e-mail message to their retailers 24/7, alerting them about a product recall or market withdrawal.
“Food safety has always been a priority for Sun-Maid,” says Slinkard. “When we heard about the concept of a recall service that everyone could benefit from, we signed up to help make it a reality.”
He adds, “If we had to do a recall, I’m confident Rapid Recall Exchange would perform flawlessly for us.”
Creating a Perfect Tool
As a major contributor to the Rapid Recall Exchange, Sun-Maid points to some of the features that make it an important part of the company’s product recall and market withdrawal process. For example, Rapid Recall Exchange eliminates any confusion about products being recalled or withdrawn.
“It gives us one source to deliver comprehensive and accurate withdrawal information to all of our retailers, yet we can also target a specific retailer, providing information that applies to only them,” adds Slinkard. “It would be a significant time saver for us, and our retailers would not waste time on products they do not carry.”
Perhaps the biggest benefit for Sun-Maid is the ability for dialogue with retailers.
“With Rapid Recall Exchange, we will know which retailers receive and open our notification, and when. They can come back to us with questions and advise us of their actions,” comments Terjeson. “And the fact that all this information is together in one place is very important.”
Tracing Each Step
Leaving nothing to chance, Sun-Maid conducts mock recalls several times a year. The process starts with tracing the identified product lot back to the grower.
To do this, Slinkard describes how Sun-Maid uses GS1 standards in its supply chain: “Our growers deliver the raisins in bins with EPC-enabled RFID tags. We clean the raisins, add some moisture, and package them in cartons, boxes or bags and uniquely identify them with Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs). The GTINs are encoded in a UPC barcode and applied to each item. These individual items are packed together in cases with ITF-14 barcodes, which also carry GTINs. The pallets have license plate barcodes on them so we can track them as well.”
The next step would be to notify brokers and retailers. Rapid Recall Exchange is an integral part of this. While an e-mail is not sent to retailers during a mock recall, Sun-Maid has thoroughly tested the Rapid Recall Exchange service.
“We’re focused on getting more and more retailers to join so that we can utilize its full potential,” says Slinkard. “We’re helping to raise awareness by reaching out to our retailers. I’m convinced if they learn about the service, they will be eager to sign up!”
The major measurement for Sun-Maid mock recalls is time: “We have a targeted timeframe, which is measured in hours, for our traces,” says Slinkard. “We’ve been 100 percent successful in our ability to perform traces.”
With Rapid Recall Exchange, GS1 Standards and its people in place, Sun-Maid is prepared to perform a successful withdrawal, or if needed, a recall at any time. “Our plan is to never have to use Rapid Recall Exchange” says Slinkard. “But, if we ever do, we’re confident it will help us be successful.”
FAST FACTS
Words of Wisdom
“We haven’t had a recall, but we have always had a recall and
withdrawal plan.” — John Slinkard, Vice President of Supply Chain, Sun-Maid
Company at a Glance
Sun-Maid is a cooperative owned by nearly 1,000 family farmers who grow raisin grapes in California’s fertile San Joaquin Valley. In addition to healthy raisins, Sun-Maid offers a full line of dried fruits and even yogurt-coated items in the Unites States and 57 other countries.
Track & Trace Tools
By using GS1 standards like Global Trade Item Numbers and EPC-enabled RFID tags, Sun-Maid can trace its raisins back to the grower. This speeds the recall/withdrawal process.
Always Prepared
Sun-Maid conducts mock product recalls several times each year to always be prepared. The company continually aims to improve its process, making it faster and better.