What kind of products do you blend?
A. Basically if it involves the blending of dry food ingredients, we can make it. But if you need more specifics, click here to see our application strengths.
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Do you only produce dry blended products?
A. The vast majority of our production capabilities support only dry ingredient blending. We’re a big fan of dry products because of their many benefits. Learn more about our dry product offerings.
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What industries do you serve?
A. We serve any and all industries that provide food grade products. For example, Kent Precision Foods Group blended products are sold through both foodservice and retail channels. We support the product needs of major and speciality food manufacturers, restaurant chains, foodservice distributors, supermarkets, the military, and schools, to name just a few. So more than likely, we understand the needs of the business unit you’re serving with your products.
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Where are your plants located?
A. Kent Precision Foods Group produces products out of three centrally-located facilities: Bolingbrook, Illinois, (south of Chicago), Columbus, Ohio, and New Sharon, Iowa, located in the south central part of the state.
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Can you make kosher certified products?
A. Yes.
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Can you make halal certified products?
A. Yes.
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What is the smallest package you can produce?
A. Less than 1 ounce, depending on the product.
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What is the largest package you can produce?
A. 2,000 lb. tote.
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How do you package items?
A. Kent Precision Foods Group capabilities enable us to provide a variety of packaging options to our customers. Whether you need your product packed in a 2,000 lb. tote or for individual serving, in a flexible film pouch, carton, jar or can, Kent Precision Foods Group likely has a packaging option for you. For more details on this topic, download our Packaging Capabilities catalog. And if you don’t see what you’re looking for, give us a call anyway. Quite possibly, with a small adjustment, we can meet your packaging requirements or at least point you to another supplier who can.
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Who audits your plants?
A. We are audited annually by the British Retail Consortium, in accordance with guidelines outlined by the Global Food Safety Initiative or GFSI. In addition to the Food and Drug Administration, we are also routinely audited by other agencies as mandated by some of our customers.
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How do I get started with Kent Precision Foods Group?
A. Just send us an email via our Contact Us link, and we promise to respond to you within 48 business hours. You’ll be speaking with one of our qualified salespeople. Everyone on our sales team knows our custom blending capabilities inside and out. Upon hearing about your specific needs, our sales associate will share how we can help make your product vision a reality.
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Can you help me develop a new idea?
A. Absolutely. Our talented chefs and food scientists are on top of the latest flavor and culinary trends and would be happy to meet with you and brainstorm ideas to further your business goals.
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Can Kent Precision Foods Group create a product for me?
A. Sure. It is one of the many benefits of working with Kent Precision Foods Group. We have talented chefs, well versed in emerging cuisines and flavor trends, and dedicated food scientists with years of product development experience and relationships with the industry’s premier ingredient suppliers. Combined, that’s a powerful team at your disposal, available to inspire, refine, and most importantly, deliver a new product developed exclusively to drive your business forward.
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Can you match my formula or recipe?
A. Yes. If you are able to provide a detailed formula or recipe, we can most certainly match it. If you have a finished product, but no specific formula, we’ll do our best to reverse engineer it. In other words, our R&D team will analyze your product and attempt to determine the various ingredients, and the respective quantities being used to make it. It’s a true skill, one they’ve finely honed based on decades of experience.
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How do you keep formulas confidential?
A. Formula access is limited to a select few team members on a need-to-know basis and all formulas are managed through our development process. Confidentiality agreements are maintained at all levels.
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What is Kent Precision Foods Group’s minimum order requirement?
A. Generally speaking, we’d like to be able to produce at least 4,000 lbs. of an item, as this quantity allows for a thorough blend. However, we’re very flexible, so if you need fewer than 4,000 lbs. let’s talk it through and evaluate options.
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How will you price my project?
A. The blending and packaging of dry ingredients involves a variety of factors that influence cost, such as number and type of ingredients, pack size, total volume, ingredient specifications, packaging, etc. It is best to speak to one of our experienced sales representatives about your product and your short- and long-term goals. Be honest about your pricing expectations. He or she will be able to guide you accordingly, perhaps suggesting ways to decrease costs, if necessary. We’ll do our utmost to meet your pricing needs.
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What are my lot code options?
A. Our standard lot code follows a format that identifies the location of production, Julian date and batch – but we are flexible to meet any specific coding recommendations.
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How do you read a Julian date lot code?
A. There are complex systems of tracking Julian dates and times. Kent Precision Foods Group interprets a Julian date as indicating the day in the year, for example, May 14th is the 134th day in the year.
Here’s how to read a typical Kent Precision Foods Group Julian date:
B1134D56
B= Plant Location (in this case Bolingbrook, Illinois)
1 = Last Digit of Year; 2011 =”1″
134 = Day in Year (based on 365 days in a year, May 14th is the 134th day)
D = Production Line
56 = Batch Number
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I’m concerned about cross-contamination. How is this managed?
A. Our processes and systems are controlled using strict Quality Assurance and GMP procedures. We manage systems of identification and segregation. Our facilities are audited regularly for compliance to Food Manufacturing and Regulatory guidelines and we have a detailed allergen control program. We would be happy to talk to you in detail about our quality parameters, as we explore doing business with you.
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Can I tour your facilities?
A. Yes. We’d be happy to schedule a tour of one of our production facilities. To arrange for this, simply send us an email via the Contact Us link and one of our qualified sales associates will get back to you within 48 hours.
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What is your capacity?
A. With three production facilities, encompassing approximately 250,000 square feet, we have the capacity to meet nearly any dry blending need.
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How do you ensure the safety of the products you produce?
A. Ensuring the safety of the products we produce is paramount to Kent Precision Foods Group. Absolutely nothing is more important. It is why we pursued an audit by the British Retail Consortium, considered the gold standard of auditing bodies. We strive to be the best and want to be held accountable to the highest expectations of the industry we serve. We have established protocols and employ numerous best practices in our operations that guide everything from ingredient sourcing, quality checks, packaging integrity, employee training to overall plant cleanliness. Learn more about Kent Precision Foods Group’s safety protocols and best practices.
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Do you have the ability to microtest products?
A. Yes.
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Does Kent Precision Foods Group sell its own line of branded products?
A. Yes. We blend and package a number of products under the Frostline®, Dole® Soft Serve, Foothill Farms™ and Thick-It brands. And because we do, we appreciate and understand how critical it is for your products to consistently look and perform as expected. You’re entrusting us with your brand’s promise, and we take that very seriously.
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