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Manufacturing Innovation Blog
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Hawaiian Chip Company began in 2000 and is best known for unique, boldly flavored sweet potato and taro chips. Its products are made using only the highest-quality local Hawaiian produce, including Okinawan sweet potatoes, taro grown on the Big Island and Oahu's North Shore, and golden sweet potatoes grown on Molokai. These chips are the creation of Jimmy Chan, who was inspired by professional chef Emeril Lagasse. Jimmy worked at perfecting the cooking method and is the proud creator of one of Hawaii's favorite snacks. Hawaiian Chip Company is also known for its line of BBQ sauces and hot sauces.
The company has had the opportunity to partner with some large firms within Hawaii, including Hawaiian Airlines. However, in order to expand the company outside of Hawaii and into different regions and countries, Hawaiian Chip Company needed to comply with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements and pass a third-party audit to meet customer requirements.
Assistance from Innovate Hawaii was essential when it came to food safety mandates. The Innovate Hawaii team is knowledgeable about the new and updated mandates and was ready with expert advice when we had a question. Their support has been invaluable in our company’s growth.
— Jimmy Chan, Founder & Owner
Third-party audits often pose a challenge for small businesses, but Innovate Hawaii, part of the MEP National Network™, was able to put Hawaiian Chip Company’s management in contact with expert consultants to help guide them through food safety plan development and the audit process.
This consultant was able to pinpoint areas that needed to be addressed before the audit. One issue stood out—metal detection within the product. A different consultant was then brought in to help resolve this specific issue and share his professional advice on the specific type of equipment that needed to be purchased to pass this area of the audit.
Thanks to HTDC's expert guidance, Hawaiian Chip Company successfully passed the third-party audit in 2018. HTDC guidance and expertise greatly reduced the development and implementation time.
Results
- $200,000 in increased annual sales
- $900,000 in retained annual sales
- 3 new markets gained
Could your company benefit from assistance with third-party audits? Connect with your local MEP Center for more information.
INNOVATE Hawaii is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Hawaii. The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that helps small and medium-sized manufacturers generate business results and thrive in today’s technology-driven economy. The MEP National Network comprises the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), the 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
