From dairy plant to global seafood leader with Ideagen Food & Beverage

The challenge

Hofseth International AS has grown from a single plant in 2005 to one of Europe's largest salmon and trout processors, producing nearly 200 million portions in 2023. This rapid expansion, from a former dairy plant to a multi-site operation, brought significant compliance challenges. 

The company previously relied on paper documentation and basic computer systems. This created an environment that was not conducive to collaboration across departments and made it difficult to stay audit-ready for certifications like IFS Food and Global G.A.P. 

To support their ambitious growth plans, Hofseth needed a robust compliance system that could digitize their operations, provide real-time oversight, and maintain the highest standards across their global supply network. 

The solution

After a thorough review, Hofseth chose Ideagen Food & Beverage to enhance their compliance processes. The goal was to implement a single, centralized platform that could manage their complex food safety requirements. 

The solution was designed to: 

• Uphold standards: Integrate compliance programs with advanced monitoring to meet stringent food safety requirements. 
• Centralize information: Bring all key data onto a single platform for better control and visibility. 
• Support growth: Provide a scalable system that could grow with the business and support future plans. 

Implementation and impact

The transition from a paper-based system required careful management. Hofseth partnered with the Ideagen Professional Services team, composed of food safety experts, who provided dedicated guidance throughout the entire lifecycle. 

This collaboration ensured a smooth digital transformation without disrupting production. The impact was significant: 

• Real-time oversight: The new system simplified compliance with IFS and ASC certifications, keeping the facilities audit-ready at all times. 
• Proactive monitoring: Issues are identified quickly and escalated automatically, reducing downtime and boosting productivity. 
• Improved collaboration: The user-friendly interface fosters better communication between the production floor, quality assurance, and logistics. 

The results

By digitizing their operations, Hofseth has created a more efficient and reliable compliance framework. This allows them to focus on innovation and growth while ensuring product quality. 

Key outcomes include: 

• Full digital transition: Moved from paper and SharePoint to a fully digital, audit-ready platform. 
• Centralized data: Improved consistency with centralized data collection, monitoring, and analysis. 
• Enhanced decision-making: Real-time reporting enables faster, data-driven decisions. 
• Supplier network control: Gained real-time oversight of their supplier network. 

The platform's custom reporting capabilities provide deeper insights, allowing Hofseth to act with agility and stay adaptable to shifting market demands.