Rieber’s CHECK digital HACCP system has transformed the food delivery service for a cook-chill CPU kitchen producing 17,500 meals weekly, by saving 27 tonnes of packaging in one year.
CHECK digital HACCP means caterers can replace disposables with sustainable reusable stainless steel GN pans.
“Introducing sustainable reusables means collecting used GN containers at the next delivery,” says BGL Rieber’s MD, Gareth Newton. “The simple common sense of using stainless steel GN containers instead of single use products appeals to professional caterers. The long-term saving in the cost of disposables, as well as labour savings, reduced handling and efficiency improvements, will more than pay the upfront cost in stocking up with GN pans and trolleys.
“Rieber’s CHECK Meta catering initiative moves the industry forward. It is a great tool for the food producer, but it can also improve HACCP management anywhere you deliver that food. CHECK is clever because it uses tech we are all familiar with such as QR codes, smartphones, laptops and hand scanners used for shopping.”
Digital catering explained…
A new video from Rieber explains how the CPU food producer, NEULAND Zieglerschen, worked with Rieber to develop the Rieber CHECK system, which uses an app combined with smartphones, smartlabels, computers and digital scanning equipment.
Rieber describes CHECK as ‘Meta Catering’ because it can transform the industry by introducing more efficient food safety, minimising paperwork and improving the working life for the staff.
Says the operator: “If you want consistency in operation, you have to decide on a system at some point!” Lothar Stutzle, Area Manager, NEULAND, Germany.
Scanning keeps track of the GNs, which tells the operator where pans go missing, reducing wastage and costs.
CHECK starts with GN containers labelled with QR-coded smartlabels, which note the food type and date of production. The QR code can also identify the customer, which means GN pans no longer get lost.
NEULAND uses thousands of GN containers to supply its customers with ready made meals. Missing containers were adding to their costs. Now, having the QR code and CHECK, they know where the GN pans are at any stage, and if they go missing from customer returns, they have a case for reimbursement.
CHECK guarantees HACCP throughout the production cycle of the GN pan, from producer to caterer to customer:
- Temperature monitoring: the system sends alarms and emails if things get too hot or cold!
- Scanning QR-labels assists hygiene by improving accuracy; it also speeds up orders and delivery. The production staff like scanners because they save time and reduce paperwork.
- Customers receiving the food can also use the QR smartlabels and CHECK for their HACCP.
- CHECK records temperatures at prep, cooking, storage, delivery, reheating, and at dispense, to ensure the producer and caterer are always on the right side of regulations.
- Finally, Rieber’s CHECKLIST is used for cleaning; the app and smartphone system features a CHECKLIST which keeps track of the cleaning process as workers tick off their completed tasks. If anything needs attention, such as when a defective floor tile is spotted, staff take a photograph using the phone and speak or write a message for the manager.
NEULAND Zieglerschen supplies nurseries, kindergartens, schools, care homes, and nursing homes.
NEULAND says:
“The company has 35 employees preparing around 1.5 million food portions (breakfast, lunch and dinner) in the NEULAND kitchen annually.
“The catchment and delivery area of the NEULAND kitchen ranges from the Remstal in the Stuttgart area to Lake Constance. To ensure that the food reaches customers everywhere on time and reliably, there are currently 4 trucks – one 5.0 ton truck and three 7.5 ton trucks – with a total of 10 drivers in use. This results in a total annual mileage of around 150,000 kilometres!”