AboutJim Pfister Expertise Food Engineering/Manufacturing, Food Packaging/Distribution, Engineering Beverage Lines, Reducing operating cost of packaging lines while increasing efficiency. Lean Manufacturing. Incorporating new package technology into existing operations. Training staff to achieve smooth transition from "start-up" to full production. Managing complex projects across multi-disciplinary lines. Equipment PreShipment Factory Acceptance testing and Commissioning programs for new equipment.
Experience Employment history: Over thirty-five years of experience. Managed as much as $40MM in concurrent, multi-disciplinary projects, both domestic and international, and have worked with such firms as Campbell Soup, Coca-Cola, Hershey`s, and Nabisco.
Organizations: An author and speaker, as well as a member of the IoPP. Past Chairman of IoPP`s Consultant`s Council and Member of the Packaging Equipment Performance Committee.
Question I am wanting to start producing a specialty smoothie line. I have no clue what the regulations are or what equipment I need since I have never been involved in anything of such. Can you please tell me what equipment I need as well as some websites to look at or companies to call for the equipment I need; and also what government regulations there are etc. Thank you!
Answer Brandon,
You probably don't realize it, but what you're asking me would fill two textbooks, and this forum isn't the place for that. A few things to ponder though:
1. Don't even think about manufacturing and packaging your own products unless you've got $10MM lying around...plus...a big empty building that's designed for food manufacturing. And that just gets you cases of product. You still have to sell and distribute it.
2. Anybody you want to help you will want to see a full biz plan, and also taste some samples. How well have you planned everything out?
3. The biggest key will be for you to be able to show what's different, special, unique about your product that the thousands of others just like yours don't have. If you can't show that, and convince the guy on the other side of the desk, then you're likely going to fail.
4. If you want to start small, do a Google on "home canning" where you will find lots of sites that sell small scale processing and packaging equipment. There's also lots of articles on formulations, recipes, etc.
5. Any food product has to have that full disclosure label on the side that we've all seen thousands of times. That information usually comes from an independent, 3rd party lab that tests and certifies what's inside the package.
6. Regulations vary a lot from state to state. the best advice I can give you is to buy an hour of your attorney's time to get him to tell you what local, state, and federal rules you must follow.
