Phelps Pet Products: Faster Quality Analysis, Bigger Savings with SpectraStar™ XT
Phelps Pet Products believes SpectraStar™ XT Benchtop NIR Analyzers offers the most capability to analyze their pet food products for important quality constituents.
Learn about Phelps Pet and why they chose SpectraStar XT over other NIR brands.
Phelps Pet Products (Phelps Pet) is a prominent manufacturer specializing in clean-label pet treats and frozen raw meat products for national and private label brands. Established in 1966 and located in Rockford, Illinois, USA, Phelps Pet works with some of the world’s most well-known pet food brands. Over the years, Phelps Pet has amassed over 550 dog treat recipes, many customized to meet various third-party certifications, including USDA Organic, Upcycle Food Association, Marine Stewardship Council, and more.
Protein, moisture, and fat content are vital constituents of the Phelps Pet product line. According to Phelps Pet’s Vice President of FSQAR & Innovation, Chris Evans, the company relied heavily on third-party testing laboratories to validate their food products for these vital constituents. “Routine product sample was not only time-consuming, but it also became expensive over time, hindering our ability to adjust production batches in response to quality variations quickly,” said Evans. “We have the potential to analyze around 175 finished product samples each week, so the costs add up quickly.”
Recognizing these challenges, Evans and his team began exploring options to become more proactive with their product quality analysis and bringing these capabilities in-house. Near-infrared technologies (NIR) offer the most functionality for their product line.
Their decision-making process involved extensive research and consultations with several technology providers. They evaluated other prominent NIR instrument brands like CEM and FOSS. Ultimately, the SpectraStar™ XT Series NIR Analyzer stood out primarily due to its cost-effectiveness and versatility.
“After careful evaluation, we felt the SpectraStar XT offered the most capability to test raw materials and finished products—essential functionality for Phelps Pet’s operational requirements,” said Evans. “Testing raw materials when received allows us to batch correct if necessary to achieve the guaranteed analysis on the product label.”
Phelps Pet predominantly uses the SpectraStar XT for jerky-like pet treats and frozen raw meat. Today, they utilize existing meat calibrations provided by KPM Analytics. However, they are developing custom calibrations alongside the KPM Analytics Applications Team to match their specific products and processes better. The proactive quality management from the SpectraStar XT significantly enhances both operational efficiency and product consistency, directly benefiting customer satisfaction, says Evans.
Post-Sale Service Affirms Phelps Pet’s Decision on KPM
One notable positive Phelps Pet has experienced since adopting the SpectraStar XT Analyzer has been the quick responsiveness to the KPM Analytics Applications & Service Teams. Early on, Phelps Pet had questions regarding software functionality, including some inadvertently missing product calibrations. The prompt, dedicated support from KPM’s team, especially notable contributions from team members Shayla Franks and Casey Thomson, swiftly resolved these issues.
Franks, along with a KPM software developer, efficiently identified and corrected the software issues, quickly restoring the analyzer’s functionality. Thomson was a great resource for helping the Phelps Pet quality team set up effective calibrations, providing ongoing support, and ensuring smooth integration into Phelps Pet’s operational work flows.
When asked about advice for industry colleagues considering adopting the SpectraStar XT, Evans emphasized patience during the initial setup phase. Evans says the long-term benefits will outweigh the initial investment of time and resources. “Having the capability to analyze our products in-house ensures compliance with regulatory and labeling standards. This system also helped us achieve considerable cost savings over time compared to reliance on external testing services.”
Evans and the Phelps Pet quality team expressed complete satisfaction with the SpectraStar XT Analyzer’s current functionality, underscoring the effectiveness and reliability of this robust analytical solution.
The integration of the SpectraStar XT Analyzer has empowered Phelps Pet to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality control, and ensure regulatory compliance, reinforcing its position as a trusted manufacturer in the competitive pet food market.
