Colour coding keeps company clean

Established in 1901, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses is a family-owned and operated business. The Victorian company produces desserts, pasties, cakes and pies in one central baking facility daily and dispatches products to about 50 franchised stores across the country.

Working with a range of ingredients that includes eggs and raw meats means the avoidance of cross-contamination and bacterial control is a key business driver. The company says one of its most challenging tasks is to continuously keep the bakery clean and organised so it is always prepared for health inspections.

To achieve its stated aim of becoming “one of the most hygienically clean and professional working bakeries in the world,” Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses has implemented Vikan’s colour-coded cleaning hygiene system in its production facility. The system fully supports HACCP requirements, making it easier to ensure product safety and document the company’s internal hygiene control.

Vikan’s tool range is made from FDA-approved raw materials that are suitable for use in the food industry. The smooth, fully moulded components make them easy to clean and prevent bacteria build-up, while quick-drying plastics have been selected for their resistance to bacterial growth.

The Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses facility has been colour zoned by Vikan. Each production zone uses a different colour, and currently six colours of tools are in use. Tools are stored within the zoned areas on brackets of the same colour, ensuring staff always have the right tools to hand and reducing the risk of microorganisms being transferred from one part of the facility to another.

“We run lean management systems at our bakery, which Vikan’s products fit in with perfectly,” said Raymond Holder, Food Safety Manager at the Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses production facility. “With the Vikan colour-coded products, we are able to control tool use in each area and, in this way, reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

“Vikan’s system has helped us progress even further towards our hygienic cleaning goal, which is of extreme importance to us as we put great effort into maintaining the highest standards of product quality.”