Situation

Founded in 1986, Chef Creations provides innovative food concepts and products to restaurants and foodservice operators, helping them to gratify the ever-increasing sophistication of consumer tastes. Chef Creations works with chefs to customize products that deliver fresh, delicious food products to exceedingly demanding restaurant customers. Two of the most difficult dairy-based dishes to create in large volumes in any kitchen or restaurant are hollandaise sauce and crème brûlée, and Chef Creations set out to merchandise these gourmet products to chefs' kitchens across the U.S.

Opportunity

• Satisfy restaurants' and foodservice operators' growing appetite for ways to offer trendy, ready-to-use, high-profit-margin gourmet specialties with "from scratch" taste that requires little preparation time.

Objectives

• Provide ready-to-use products that are fresh and natural
• Reduce food prep time while protecting flavor and freshness
• Provide exceptional, consistent gourmet taste profile
• Meet or exceed rigorous health and safety standards
• Discover reliable and cost-effective packaging for high-quality, mass-produced dairy specialties
• Expand production and distribution of Chef Creations-brand hollandaise sauce and crème brûlée
• Save refrigeration costs and space during distribution and storage, and prevent spoilage

Solution

Chef Creations discovers key ingredient for success in Tetra Brik™ Aseptic carton.
In the summer of 2003, restaurants and foodservice operators in the U.S. were introduced to Chef Creations-brand hollandaise sauce and crème brûlée delivered in 32 oz. Tetra Brik™ Aseptic cartons. Chef Creations selected Tetra Pak because it needed a packaging partner that offered an innovative, high-grade, complete processing and packaging solution to help maintain its overall product integrity. The Tetra Brik™ Aseptic carton allows the company to distribute its product nationally without preservatives or refrigeration, and without compromising its high standards or modifying its product. Chef Creations also chose Tetra Pak because of the company's extensive research and development department that collaborates with companies on new product launches.

"We researched every other competitor and nothing compared to what Tetra Pak offered. The company offers processing and packaging expertise that can't be found elsewhere. It's a great company to partner with because it offers complete custom solutions."
—Hal Valdes, President, Chef Creations

Long renowned for its aseptic packaging success, Tetra Pak still had to demonstrate to Chef Creations that the Tetra Brik Aseptic could maintain the delicate flavor and consistency of gourmet products such as hollandaise sauce and crème brûlèe for months at a time without adding preservatives or requiring refrigeration. Working hand-in-hand with members of the Chef Creations team, Tetra Pak conducted rigorous testing at its Pilot Plant in Denton, Texas. Ultimately, a reliable product formulation was developed that allows Chef Creations to keep even the most fragile dairy foods fresh and flavorful for up to ten months.

Results

Higher margins are the crème de la crème brûlée.
Tetra Brik Aseptic allowed Chef Creations to expand its product line while still maintaining the highest gourmet standards for quality and taste. With its new line of Tetra Brik-packaged products, Chef Creations now offers its commercial customers a convenient way to add higher-margin items to their menus. Distributed by Sysco, one of the largest foodservice distribution companies, these products further solidify the company's position as an innovative foodservice supplier. Furthermore, both distributors and operators benefit from the ability to carry these sensitive, high-value products without the costs associated with refrigeration or spoilage.