Butternut Box achieves BRCGS AA+ status with Ideagen Food & Beverage

The challenge

Butternut Box was founded on a simple idea: dogs deserve better. What started in 2010 as a home-cooked remedy for a sick pet quickly grew into a phenomenon. 

By 2016, the company had moved to its first pilot facility, but the demand for their fresh, healthy dog food was outpacing their operational capabilities. As they prepared to launch a new purpose-built facility in Sheffield, they faced a critical hurdle. 

They needed a dedicated partner to support their food safety and quality compliance. Their goal was ambitious: achieve BRCGS certification immediately after production started to prove their pet food was fit for human consumption. To do this, they needed a Quality Management System that could match their state-of-the-art production processes and integrate with their ERP. 

The solution

Butternut Box selected Ideagen Food & Beverage as their platform of choice. Rather than importing legacy data, they chose to build their Food Safety and Supplier Quality Management Systems from the ground up within the platform. 

They needed a solution that would: 

• Ensure audit readiness: A robust system capable of supporting their goal of immediate BRCGS certification. 
• Scale with growth: A platform that could handle rapid expansion across Europe. 
• Provide a single source of truth: A digital system where all data is accessible in real-time. 

Implementation and impact

The deployment process was unique. While most customers migrate existing mature systems, Butternut Box built their documentation, records, and workflows from scratch within Ideagen Food & Beverage. 

Partnering with the Ideagen Food & Beverage Professional Services team, they aimed for a six-month rollout. However, the project was completed and signed off in just four months. 

The introduction of this digital platform provided immediate benefits: 

• Remote accessibility: Teams can conduct investigations and identify discrepancies swiftly from tablets or phones. 
• Proactive quality control: Issues are prevented before products reach consumers, protecting the brand's reputation. 
• Operational efficiency: A smoother manufacturing process that mitigates risk. 

The results

The implementation has been a resounding success, supporting Butternut Box's transition from a startup to a European leader in the pet food industry. 

Key outcomes include: 

• Rapid deployment: Project completed 2 months ahead of schedule. 
• Top-tier certification: Sites are now BRCGS AA+ certified. 
• Massive data handling: Over 12,000 digital records are raised every month. 
• Continued growth: The system supports new sites, including expansion into Central Europe. 

By digitizing supply chain management and quality control, Butternut Box has reinforced its reputation as an industry disruptor committed to excellence.