Gina Duffey Michelle Sheffield
FPL Food, LLC Guess how many pounds of beef are processed in the U.S. annually? a) 92 Million lbs b) 28 Billion lbs c) 57 Billion lbs d) 62 Million lbs b) 28 Billion lbs
FPL Food, LLC Located in Augusta, GA Largest privately owned beef processor in the Southeast
What you will learn about FPL Food 1. History, mission, and about their facilities 2. Brands, products, and markets 3. Safety and welfare 4. Employment opportunities of FPL Food
History Shapiro Packing Company of Key Stone Foods FPL Food, LLC 2004
About the Founder François Paul Léger The leadership team regards Léger as a generous, innovative, direct and hands-on boss. 1 of 10 children Grew up in France on a farm Started loading trucks with shipments of beef, then the plants boning room, then moved up in 1980 working with Key Stone Foods Had an opportunity to purchase the plant in Augusta and develop FPL Food
Mission FPL Food is dedicated to providing traditional and custom quality meat items, to satisfy the needs of each of its customers.
Facilities
FACILITIES The Headquarters and the Main Plant Augusta, GA Processing Plant Thomasville, GA
FACILITIES Processing Plant Columbia, SC Purchased in 2010 Chatel Farms (1,155 acres) Reidsville, GA Purchased in 2011
FPL Food: Brands and Products FPL Food is the parent company brand. This brand reaches a variety of markets, such as food service, private label, military, and export. The following brands help FPL provide these markets with an assortment of products to meet each customer s specific needs. Southern River Farms Red Maple Farms FPL Beef Halal Branded Program Simple Creations
Brands and Products Southern River Farms Products: Traditional cuts, value-added beef; USDA Prime, Choice, and Select certified cuts Target Market: This brand produces FPL s fed cattle product and reaches all markets. Red Maple Farms Products: Traditional cuts, value-added beef Target Market: This brand is selected for FPL s white fat cattle and in house Angus program; it reaches a variety of customers. FPL Beef Products: Variety of ground beef products Target Market: This brand reaches all markets at an affordable price.
Brands and Products (cont.) Halal Branded Program Products: Value-added beef and ground beef selections Target market: FPL is Halal certified through Halal Transactions of Omaha. This product is largely exported, but is targeted to those consumers desiring Halal certified products. Simple Creations Products: Ground and further processed products Target Market: Simple Creations reaches a variety of markets.
Vertical Integration Our integrated approach further provides both our foodservice and retail customers with cost effective meat selections to diversify their menu or provide consistency in their meat case. Consistency Time efficiency Customer value Slaughter Processing Market
Chatel Farms: Pasture to Plate FPL s goals for Chatel Farms: Produce their own cattle fed by their own harvested crop Follow these animals through the slaughter, manufacturing, and marketing processes Produce consistent cattle that meet their own specifications
From Beginning to End 1 day to process the live animal 24 hours (cows/bulls) or 48 hours (fed cattle) to allow the animal to chill 2 hours to bone the carcass and package the cuts Trim is sent to the Meat Master and x-rayed to determine the lean percentage. For further processing, the whole cuts are sent to the grinding facility (Columbia, SC) or the further processing facility (Thomasville, GA). **The entire process typically takes 48 hours for cows/bulls and 72 hours for fed cattle.
FPL Statistics How many animals enter the facility daily? Approximately 850 animals How many pounds of meat are produced daily? Approximately 550,000 lbs Who is the largest supplier to FPL? FPL has multiple suppliers from all over the United States (sale barns and farms). Who is the largest consumer of FPL? FPL reaches the retail, export, and food service markets equally.
Where did my food come from? IdentiGEN s DNA Traceback is a tool implemented by FPL four years ago that provides: A guarantee of pure beef An assurance of tested and safe beef Increased consumer trust
Is my food safe? BRC Certified Multi-Hurdle Approach to Pathogen Reduction Steam Vacuums Hot water pasteurization treatment Organic rinse on hot carcass/cold carcass High pressure carcass wash Continuous belt sanitation with organic acid rinse Testing of O157:H7 prior to shipment/use All raw material is tested BoviBrom rinse to reduce E. coli levels Downer animals are not allowed in the meat supply Third-party auditing Use of outside accredited microbiological testing
How are the animals treated? Arrowsight is a camera monitoring system that allows managers to constantly review the actions and progress of the production process which further increases animal safety and welfare. FPL also follows USDA and AMI guidelines to ensure animal welfare.
The FPL Assembly Line How many different stations/positions are a part of the start to finish process? Cattle procurement Receiving cattle barn Slaughter floor Boning room Quality/food safety department Shipping Maintenance B&E (refrigeration) Waste water facility Rendering facility Hide house Sales department, accounting, marketing, and human resources
Employment at FPL Food, LLC Career options Work Environment Production roles for both the slaughter and fabrication floors. Maintenance Technician Quality Assurance Technician Quality Control Technician Fast paced and labor intensive Health and safety regulations Full benefits for employees
Conclusion FPL is a business that works to provide customers with quality, assurance, and safe food. They are large enough to provide a wide range of products and cater to specific needs of the consumer. Further, their approach to vertical integration gives them the upper hand on consumer trust.
Sources http://www.fplfood.net/ Ms. Jasmine Walker Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager FPL Food, LLC.