For Schinkel, it all
starts with sourcing fresh beef, pork and poultry from local suppliers who have
the same commitment to high standards. "They spend a little extra time and
effort to get a consistent high-quality product," he explains.
He also
insists on real hardwood smoke instead of smoke flavour, refuses to use MSG or
meat by-products, and puts a strong emphasis on food safety - an emphasis that
led to Advantage HACCP certification in February 2008.
Hazard Analysis
and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is a science-based food safety system that
identifies biological, physical and chemical hazards in the manufacturing process
and puts measures in place to reduce or eliminate those hazards.
Since
Schinkel saw that HACCP is an internationally accepted standard for food processors,
he decided to introduce HACCP measures in his plant and began looking for an appropriate
certification program.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural
Affairs' Advantage HACCP program, specifically designed for small and medium-sized
food processing plants, fit the bill.
Meeting the stringent standards was
no easy task, but thanks to Schinkel's foresight, much of the groundwork was already
in place. A mere nine months after the company began implementing Advantage
HACCP, Schinkel's Legacy passed the third-party certification audit conducted
by the Canadian General Standards Board.
Today, a tour of the custom-built
7,500 square foot plant reveals food safety measures at every turn, from the easy-to-clean
surfaces and colour-coded brushes to the one-way product flow that reduces the
risk of cross-contamination.
And at each step, everything is scrupulously
documented. "Even when you're busy, it still has to be written down,"
Schinkel stresses. "No shortcuts."
For Schinkel, Advantage
HACCP certification has brought plenty of benefits, and not just in terms
of food safety. Thanks to all the documentation, the company has gained more control
over costs and boosted the efficiency of operations.
However, the biggest
benefit is being able to prove how seriously Schinkel's Legacy takes food safety
issues. "People are becoming more and more aware of food safety," he
explains. "When they know that you're conscientious and proactive about it,
they will have more confidence in you."
Schinkel foresees a day when
HACCP certification a requirement for doing business. Thanks to Advantage HACCP
certification, he's ready.
"You have to move forward, and this is the
way the world is moving," Schinkel says. "This was about creating building
blocks for the future."
Contact Information:
Tim Schinkel,
President, Schinkel's Legacy
Tel: 1-800-813-3178
Email: tim@schinkels.ca
"You have to move forward, and this is the
way the world is moving."
- Tim Schinkel, President,
Schinkel's Legacy
Figure 1: Marian Schinkel,
Administative Manager, Schinkel's Legacy 
