Success – Potato Products of Idaho

Potato Products of Idaho 

Location: Rigby, Idaho in Jefferson County  

 Situation  

Potato Products of Idaho (PPI), based in the Eastern Idaho town of Rigby, produces premium fully-cooked baked and raw potatoes. Products include the MinuteBaker and PPI Premium Bakers. PPI produces healthy food that is quick and convenient to prepare and delicious to eat. MinuteBaker provides a hot, fluffy baked potato in seconds. Raw Premium Bakers make preparation for cooking a snap.  

During a project to expand plant operations, PPI required technical assistance in developing food safety and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs. These programs are required to assure product safety and quality and to meet customer requirements.  

Solution  

Jeff Kronenberg, TechHelp’s food processing specialist based at the University of Idaho,  provided a number of services to PPI:  

• Provided on-site technical assistance to develop a plant food safety system  • Conducted an initial food safety audit  
• Developed written food safety programs  
• Provided employee training on food safety and HACCP management  • Helped implement the prerequisite and HACCP food safety programs on the plant floor  • Provided on-site technical assistance to ensure food safety programs were appropriately implemented  
• Provided a contractor who was capable of working with PPI to help develop appropriate  food safety and product quality management programs  
• Brought in a 3rd party professional to help with assisting the new PPI QA Manager in  areas of quality, food safety, and HACCP  

Results  

As a result of TechHelp assistance, PPI reported the following results:  

• Added new products and increased capacity that increased sales by $1,500,000  • Met customer demand that helped retain sales of $500,000 

• Realized a bottom-line cost savings of $250,000 through plant efficiencies  • Invested $1,350,000 in people, plant & equipment that will help PPI become increasingly efficient and competitive