Hilmar, a California-based manufacturer of cheese and whey protein, serves customers in more than 50 countries. The company’s strategic vision required expanded capacity, which encouraged Hilmar to construct a new facility in Dodge City, Kan., in 2024.
However, the facility needed SQF certification before Hilmar could begin selling to certain customers.
Previous Certification Body Cancels Two SQF Audits
Hilmar’s Compliance and Quality Team thought they were in good shape with an SQF audit scheduled with another Certification Body. However, that CB ended up canceling two scheduled audits, which threatened to disrupt Hilmar’s timeline.
FSNS Certification & Audit Answers the Call
Gabriela Araujo, Compliance and Quality Systems Manager at Hilmar, said the company needed a CB that could move quickly and still deliver a thorough audit. FSNS Certification & Audit stepped in on short notice.
“Everyone was waiting on QA to get a certificate,” Araujo said. “We were under pressure. FSNS C&A responded immediately and worked to find an auditor within a few days.”
FSNS Certification & Audit scheduled the Dodge City audit within the same week that Hilmar had expected its previous provider to deliver. According to Araujo, the auditor brought the level of detail and industry knowledge Hilmar needed for an initial certification audit.
“The auditor was very detailed and provided a thorough audit,” Araujo said. “Before leaving, she gave us a draft of the findings so we could start responding right away.”
FSNS C&A Provides Final Report in Two Business Days
That speed made a measurable difference. The audit took place on a Thursday and Hilmar received the final report by the following Monday, which helped the site stay on its planned timeline and continue moving through the certification process without further delay.
“We were able to complete the audit in the timeline we had planned,” Araujo said. “Sales and Operations were looking forward to getting that audit completed so they could move forward. That was really great news.”
FSNS C&A Auditors Impress the Hilmar Team
Araujo also noted that FSNS C&A’s model helped set the engagement apart. Because FSNS C&A uses its own auditors rather than contractors, Hilmar experienced greater flexibility and stronger auditor calibration. She said that depth of industry experience helped the audit go more smoothly and gave the company added confidence in the process.
“It’s been a great experience for me,” Araujo said. “Customer service responds on a timely basis, the auditors are knowledgeable, and the FSNS C&A team communicates well with us.”
Thanks to FSNS C&A stepping in on short notice and providing a final report quickly, Hilmar’s Dodge City facility was able to achieve SQF certification and maintain production and profitability, helping everyone breathe easier.
Contact our team if you’re interested in scheduling an SQF or other food safety certification audit.
