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When it comes to taste, Sonneveld leaves nothing to chance. We make sure you can always trust the quality of our products. Our quality department continuously monitors our (product) standards and business processes; it provides audits, to make sure our products meet the requirements. In this, we constantly partner with our international colleagues. In an interview with our quality manager Maarten Boonstra, we invite you to discover the process that precedes the selection of our suppliers, in this case, suppliers of pumpkin seeds from China. Maarten tells you more about how we ensure the quality of our raw materials and what factors play a role in the interests of our customers.
‘Sonneveld processes pumpkin seeds in various products. Our customers can rely on the high quality of our products, which is why we put time and effort in finding the best suppliers. We always aim high.’
Preliminary research
‘The first step consists of preliminary research that takes place at our desk. We look for suppliers who are available and who qualify for further assessment’, says Maarten. We thoroughly assess the certifications of the suppliers and we send these companies a set of questionnaires with questions about the circumstances they work in. Based on the preliminary research, we selected four Chinese suppliers who appeared to be able to meet the requirements to become our pumpkin seed supplier right away. ‘Paper gives us a lot of information and sometimes the answers say exactly what you would like to hear. We find it important to verify the results ourselves, using a so-called supplier audit. We visit the suppliers to ensure that everything is really the way the supplier indicated it on paper, which is rarely the case.’
Supplier Audit
‘We really want evidence that the supplier does what he says. Of course, we check the taste, size and appearance of the seeds. And we closely examine all possible conditions, such as production conditions, hygiene, environmental conditions and the working environment. We check the documentation and analysis certificates regarding cultivation and production of the seeds.’
Shine Skin pumpkin seeds
FACTS: There are two types of pumpkin seeds for your baking products: “Shine Skin” and “Grown Without Shell” (GWS). These are not the kind of pumpkin seeds we know from the store. Shine Skin pumpkin seeds are cultivated with a white shell or hull. The pip itself has a green colour and the hull can be peeled mechanically. GWS is cultivated without hull and has a dark green colour. GWS is larger than Shine Skin, has a higher oil content and a stronger taste. At Sonneveld, we prefer the GWS pumpkin seeds. The supply chain of pumpkin seeds in China is quite long, especially from a European perspective. Traditionally, the seeds are shipped to Europe from Tiajin or Dalian. Before the seeds are distributed all over the world, they often have travelled 4000 km in China.
No success
One of the four possible pumpkin seeds suppliers was rejected right away. This company's beautiful words on paper did not match reality. ‘We were the first Europeans who submitted the company to an audit and they were not prepared for our visit. We quickly noticed the quality level was well below our requirements. The seeds were not handled in a food-safe way, which caused a high risk of contamination. There was no protection against pests, no metal detectors were used and the X-ray device that had to detect inaccuracies did not work.’
Enough excellent suppliers
‘Fortunately, there are many examples of excellent suppliers that are seriously committed to food safety, quality, environment and working conditions. Some companies are at the same level as the best companies in Europe and are working with an ecological and sustainable production on their own initiative. Excellent suppliers do exist. You just have to go through some trouble to find them and gradually filter out the bad companies.’
Work continues
We have found the best suppliers of pumpkin seeds. This does not mean that we can sit back and relax. We carry out continuous and extensive tests. We take samples of each delivery to check, for example, for heavy metals and pesticides and to check whether the delivery is in line with the relevant legislation regarding bacterial content.
That's why quality always comes first
Couldn't we just spend a little less on quality guarantee and lower the prices of the raw materials? No, because if we did, we would not be Sonneveld! If we did, we would just be another supplier not interested in the success of the bakeries. We strive to be a valuable partner for Dutch bakeries. That is why we strive for high quality and food safety so that you can benefit from:
High, uniform quality raw materials that you can trust.
- High, uniform quality raw materials that you can trust.
- High delivery reliability, providing you with the right quantities at the right time.
- The certainty that production takes place under excellent conditions.
We make great efforts to find the best suppliers for our requirements. Therefore, it is important that we visit them and thoroughly examine them to ensure the required high level of production. An additional advantage of such a visit is that it facilitates concluding excellent agreements.
2019
- Sonnevelds trusted quality in new packaging design (Corporate News, 29 March 2019)
2017
- Why do we use bread improvers? (Corporate News, 13 November 2017)
- Reduction of the presence of acrylamide in food (Corporate News, 3 November 2017)
- There is no accounting for taste, but quality is another matter! (Corporate News, 16 October 2017)
- ProSon. The easy way to premium quality (Product News, 29 August 2017)
- Bake authentic, delicious and pure breads with FermenSon (Product News, 23 August 2017)
- Quality Manager Boonstra on food safety: ‘Unannounced audits yield major results’ (Corporate News, 28 July 2017)
- Powder factory Sonneveld has a new operating system (Corporate News, 19 June 2017)
2016
- We wish you happy holidays and a successful 2017! (Corporate News, 22 December 2016)
- Sonneveld achieves unannounced AIB certificate again! (Corporate News, 15 November 2016)
- Sonneveld Group takes majority interest in Broer Bakkerijgrondstoffen. (Corporate News, 2 September 2016)
- Sonneveld exists 60 years and unveils new corporate identity (Corporate News, 21 February 2016)
- Pancoating Spray for releasing all types of bread (Product News, 17 February 2016)
- Sonneveld achieves BRC A+ certificate (unannounced) five times in a row (Corporate News, 4 February 2016)
- Sign up for the VIP Bakery Inspiration Tour! (Corporate News, 27 January 2016)
2015
- FermenSon: the ready-to-use pre-ferment of Sonneveld! (Product News, 22 September 2015)
- FermenSon, the ready to use pre-ferment! (Product News, 11 September 2015)
- This is your IBA invitation (Corporate News, 20 August 2015)
- Visit Sonneveld at IBA 2015 (Corporate News, 20 July 2015)
- Easy Go Keg – the ideal solution for release agents (Product News, 17 July 2015)
- Aerosols - release agents for small scale production runs (Product News, 17 July 2015)
- Malsextra poeder (softness powder) (Product News, 26 May 2015)
- Powder bread improvers for great softness (Product News, 26 May 2015)
- Paste bread improvers for excellent softness (Product News, 26 May 2015)
- Block bread improvers for superior softness (Product News, 26 May 2015)
- Sonneveld publishes Sustainability Report 2014 (Corporate News, 14 April 2015)
- Discover todays healthy bread based on ancient grains (Product News, 15 March 2015)
- Bread with sourdough (Product News, 10 March 2015)
- Unique flavour and softness with Crème Supersoft products (Product News, 6 March 2015)
- Introduction ID Knekkebrodmix (Product News, 6 March 2015)
- Baking Industry Awards 2015 (Corporate News, 6 March 2015)
- Sonneveld achieves unannounced BRC A+ certificate four times in a row (Corporate News, 13 February 2015)
2014
- Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! (Corporate News, 19 December 2014)
- Tasteful savoury bread snacks with Sonextra Marinade (Product News, 18 December 2014)
- The success of our gluten free bread mixes (Product News, 18 December 2014)
- Inspiration for Christmas and New Years Eve (Product News, 17 November 2014)
- Review EBIC harvest and ancient grains seminar 2014 (Corporate News, 17 November 2014)
- Change to Sonneveld Group B.V.’s management team (Corporate News, 4 November 2014)
- Product introduction: RTU Tiger Paste UK (Product News, 20 October 2014)
- Product introduction: Odense Odenbake Plus and Odense Coconut Paste (Product News, 20 October 2014)
- Sonneveld introduces Easy Go® Keg (Product News, 22 September 2014)
- Management change Sonneveld Group B.V. (Corporate News, 2 September 2014)
- New page: No allergens added (Corporate News, 12 August 2014)
- Celebread summer recipes (Product News, 7 July 2014)
- Excellent softness: Proson Super Soft Roll (Product News, 7 July 2014)
- EBIC harvest and ancient grains seminar (Corporate News, 3 July 2014)
- Overview Release Agent assortment (Product News, 3 July 2014)
- EBIC Hungary: successful customer meeting and product presentation (Corporate News, 24 April 2014)
- Sonneveld publishes Sustainability Report 2013 (Corporate News, 11 April 2014)
- Statement: Sonneveld products do not contain Kanamycin (Product News, 4 April 2014)
- Sonneveld present at Fi exhibition in Istanbul (Corporate News, 27 March 2014)
- Sonextra Marinade: new flavour Cheese Onion (Product News, 17 March 2014)
- Sonneveld introduces gluten free bread mixes (Product News, 11 March 2014)
- Release agents assortment presented at Gulfood (Corporate News, 7 March 2014)
- New release agent folder (Product News, 24 January 2014)
- Sonneveld present at Gulfood exhibition (Corporate News, 14 January 2014)
- A new year, new opportunities (Corporate News, 13 January 2014)
2013
- Sonneveld makes important step in processing sustainable palm oil (Corporate News, 22 October 2013)
- Inspiring recipes for Halloween (Product News, 10 October 2013)
- Product introduction: Sonnique Cream Cake (Product News, 1 October 2013)
- Sonneveld and Socially Responsible Enterprising (Corporate News, 13 August 2013)
- Sonneveld, EBIC and ORKLA are active on social media (Corporate News, 13 August 2013)
- Sonneveld donates computers and printers to Bake for Life (Corporate News, 8 August 2013)
- Highlighted: Productgroup Proson (Product News, 29 July 2013)
- Sonneveld is active at LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube! (Corporate News, 26 July 2013)
- Sonneveld has new mission, vision and core values (Corporate News, 12 July 2013)
- Distinctive product assortment (Corporate News, 11 June 2013)
- Agent Days 2013: Baking for non-bakers (Corporate News, 10 June 2013)
- Opening new EBIC location in Hungary (Corporate News, 3 June 2013)
- On top products for extra softness (Corporate News, 15 April 2013)
- Sonneveld publishes Sustainability Report 2012 (Corporate News, 15 April 2013)
- Cost in use advantage with Crumb Soft (Product News, 11 April 2013)
- Sonneveld achieves unannounced BRC A+ certificate again (Corporate News, 5 April 2013)
- Sonneveld has won two awards from ASDA (Corporate News, 28 March 2013)
- Renewed homepage Sonneveld website (Corporate News, 20 February 2013)
- New recipes for more inspiration (Corporate News, 14 February 2013)
- New instruction film Sonextra Marinade (Product News, 11 January 2013)
2012
- Merry Christmas and a Sustainable New Year (Corporate News, 12 December 2012)
- Expansion range release agents: Divison Spray (Product News, 10 December 2012)
- Sonneveld has a new company film (Corporate News, 2 November 2012)
- Reduce waste with Sonextra Sustain (Product News, 1 November 2012)
- Sonneveld successfully achieved the unannounced AIB audit once more (Corporate News, 30 October 2012)
- Sonextra Natural Preserve: extends shelf life of bread products (Product News, 10 October 2012)
- Sonneveld now on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube! (Corporate News, 8 October 2012)
- Sonextra Marinade: from stale bread to savoury snack (Product News, 5 October 2012)
- Product introduction: Sonextra Shortening Clean Label (Product News, 4 October 2012)
- Sonneveld uses vegetable oils (Product News, 9 August 2012)
- New cutting and dividing oil: Divison 40 (Product News, 1 August 2012)
- New item: About our raw materials (Corporate News, 30 July 2012)
- Sonneveld Group purchases Sonneveld Polska and 80% of HOL-POL (Corporate News, 5 July 2012)
- Excellent release of your products with Goldwax (Product News, 13 June 2012)
- Product introduction: Proson Sarrasin (Product News, 12 June 2012)
- Sonneveld again Best Managed Company (Corporate News, 12 June 2012)
- Quality and certificates (Corporate News, 11 April 2012)
- Sustainable palm oil (Corporate News, 10 April 2012)
- Inspiring summer tip: Mediterranean mixes (Product News, 10 April 2012)
- 2011 sustainability report (Corporate News, 17 February 2012)
- Deliciously tasty rye mixes (Product News, 9 February 2012)
2011
- Reduce waste and increase profit at the same time (Corporate News, 15 November 2011)
- Typical Dutch fruit bread (Corporate News, 11 November 2011)
- Sonneveld proud of succeeding the unannounced AIB audit (Corporate News, 12 October 2011)
- New! Proson Preserve (Product News, 16 September 2011)
- Agent Days 2011: Experience the Innovation (Corporate News, 16 September 2011)
- Release agent advice wizard (Product News, 9 September 2011)
- Five years of European bakery innovation on Dutch soil (Corporate News, 15 August 2011)
- Sonneveld products presented in Athens (Corporate News, 27 May 2011)
- Guaranteed great taste with Sonnet Brioche Beurre (Product News, 27 May 2011)
- Sonneveld once more one of the best managed companies in The Netherlands (Corporate News, 20 May 2011)
- Sonneveld achieved quality standard: BRC Unannounced (Corporate News, 12 April 2011)
- Vitason - easy to use mixes for tasty breads! (Product News, 8 April 2011)
- New: QS Croustillant for top of the bill crusty bread (Product News, 7 April 2011)
- Sustainability and Social Report 2010 (Corporate News, 7 April 2011)
- Sonneveld campaign for Alpe d’HuZes / Inspire 2 L!ve (Corporate News, 7 April 2011)
- Savings with Crumb Soft (Product News, 18 January 2011)
- Ebic fresh start in 2011 (Corporate News, 17 January 2011)
2010
- New! Credin crème pâtissière powders (Product News, 17 December 2010)
- Sonneveld supports production of sustainable palm oil (Corporate News, 1 December 2010)
- The profit of waste (Product News, 15 October 2010)
- Price increases at Sonneveld (Corporate News, 13 October 2010)
- FermenSon - product information & support (Product News, 7 October 2010)
- Taste the difference with QS Luxe Superieur (Product News, 26 July 2010)
- New website for online release agents advice (Product News, 16 July 2010)
- Changed packaging for aerosol release agents (Product News, 14 July 2010)
- Takeover Sonneveld approved (Corporate News, 14 July 2010)
- Sonneveld Group B.V. to become part of Orkla Food Ingredients (Corporate News, 26 April 2010)
- Pastes in handy rectangular buckets (Product News, 29 March 2010)
- Minimize bread waste by reprocessing old bread (Product News, 8 February 2010)
- 25% reduction on Proson Uni-force Royal (Product News, 13 January 2010)
2009
- New Sonneveld website (Corporate News, 23 December 2009)
- Dosage concepts (Innovation News, 9 October 2009)
- Visit Sonneveld at iba 2009! (Corporate News, 7 October 2009)
- Bread with less salt (Innovation News, 31 August 2009)
- Sonneveld Group B.V. wins the 2009 Fenedex Internal Export Services Trophy (Corporate News, 11 June 2009)
- Sonneveld Group BV is once again among the best managed companies in the Netherlands (Corporate News, 24 April 2009)