Food safety, traceability and sustainability blog

Delivering Global Quality and Sustainability Through Tech-Enabled Auditing with Red Lobster

“We want to make sure that we’re providing the safest food at the highest quality. The only way to really do that is to keep track of each individual supplier on a regular basis. You have to turn to technology.” — Red Lobster Director of Total Quality and Food Safety Dennis Price.

Red Lobster has been leading the charge in delivering quality, sustainable seafood since 1968. And, with fans like Beyoncé, the brand has proven that excellence is to “Sea Food Differently,” particularly in terms of sourcing and standards. The Red Lobster commitment includes serving seafood “in ways that are traceable, sustainable, and responsible,” which is something that the entire food safety and quality team takes very seriously. Red Lobster Director of Total Quality and Food Safety Dennis Price spoke with FoodLogiQ on how his team leverages FoodLogiQ Connect auditing functionality to elevate standards throughout Red Lobster's global supply chain and ensure that the company is doing its part to protect ocean resources while serving customers across hundreds of locations.

How Dine Brands Increases Value Cross-Functionally with FoodLogiQ Connect

Learn how Dine Brands Global Quality Assurance Specialist Jason Brown is leveraging the FoodLogiQ Connect platform to drive business continuity throughout the company, whose brands represent 6,000 restaurant locations worldwide.

Dine Brands Global is one of the world's largest full service dining companies in the world, and franchises two iconic brands, Applebee's and IHOP. A customer since 2018, the Dine Brands Quality Assurance team has evolved their programs by leveraging the FoodLogiQ Connect platform for years. Dine Brands’ current approach to food quality and safety? Building value through new efficiencies and superior visibility. 

Value-building is not always the first thing that comes to mind when one mentions food safety or quality assurance. As Dine Brands Quality Assurance Specialist Jason Brown points out, “Quality Assurance is not known as the money-making part of the organization.” The philosophy of building value is more often claimed by business units like franchise operations, advertising or innovation. Many believe that the importance of protecting customers, delivering top-tier, traceable ingredients and resolving incidents swiftly are investments reflected in red on their company’s balance sheet. And, when things are going well, quality and safety can remain out of sight, out of mind. “You don't really think about the things that are going on behind the scenes,” says Brown, “The restaurant doesn't care about how long it takes to get a credit until they need a credit.”

However, the Dine Brands team is proving that, armed with the right digital tools, value-building is something Quality Assurance can drive on a fundamental level.

Frontier Co-op: A Streamlined Supply Chain Enables Flexibility During COVID-19

Founded in 1976 and based in Norway, Iowa, Frontier Co-op is a cooperatively-owned wholesaler of natural and organic products under the Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic and Aura Cacia brands. With more than 25,000 member-owners and over 500 employees, they manufacture and distribute products throughout the United States and Canada.

“The complexity of products makes our supply chain a challenge,” says Greg Sommerville, Head of Supply Integrity representing Frontier Co-op. “We have more than 1,800 different ingredients and materials, including herbs and teas, spices, essential oils, and packaging. As an example of the complexity, one of our spice blends is sourced from 16 suppliers in nine different countries. Using FoodLogiQ Connect’s Manage + Monitor, we have an unmatched level of visibility into our suppliers and the associated documentation. That’s proven to be extremely valuable for regulatory compliance and quality assurance, especially during COVID-19.”

With a Commitment to Traceability, Transparency and Social Responsibility, sweetgreen Has the Magic Recipe for Success

In the midst of COVID-19, seasonal restaurant sweetgreen is riding high on the wave of national admiration. Since March of this year, the beloved maker of nutritious salads and grain bowls has focused on delivering real food to healthcare heroes in the communities it serves. To date, sweetgreen has donated over 100,000 meals to more than 130 hospitals around the country through their Impact Outpost Fund, created in partnership with Jose Andrés’ World Central Kitchen. The company’s new goal is to serve 250,000 meals. We’re proud to call sweetgreen a member of the FoodLogiQ family, and we congratulate them on the launch of their new Plates menu — their first new menu category in four years. Read on to learn more about their people, their purpose and their commitment to food safety.

FoodLogiQ Customers Named to NRN's 50 Most Influential Women in FoodService List

On Monday, March 30, the Nation’s Restaurant News published its 2020 Power List of the 50 Most Influential Women in Foodservice. Selected by the publication’s editors, these executives, chefs, technology experts, marketing gurus and bold thinkers are driving the foodservice industry forward.