News
ATV News clip - Microwave Potatoes
Tuesday March 16, 2004
WP Griffin is the fist producer in Canada to offer Microwave-ready Potatoes. Click here to see the ATV News video clip.
Dole USA Announces New Branding Partnership
Monday March 1, 2004
W.P. Griffin Inc. is proud to announce that Profresh PLC the marketing agent for Dole Potatoes & Onions has chosen W.P. Griffin Inc. to be its first Canadian Potato Branding Partner in Canada. This Newly formed labeling partnership webs the best of W.P. Griffin Inc. PEI potatoes with Dole's execellent name for superior products. Dole products being offer to Canadian and U.S. markets include restaurant count pack potatoes, 10lb paper, 5lb poly, and speciality pack potatoes. April 1st marked the launch of Dole's new Shrink Wrap Microwave Ready Potato with the "real oven baked taste in 7 minutes". Complementing two reputations for quality, the partnership opens the doors for export expansion throughtout North America. The Dole Microwave Ready potatoes can be purchased in the Longo's food chain in Ontario and selected stores across Canada.
Leading industry in change key to success
Friday February 6, 2004
Our father (Wilfred P. Griffin) started here in 1947 with Ron McKenna and by 1958 he took over the whole business, John Griffin explains about the start of the company he and his brother Peter now run. Dad incorporated in 1969. W.P. Griffin Inc. started out as a potato grading, packing and shipping business on the rail line in Elmsdale. Shortly after starting, Dad grew potatoes on the side, says John, noting that the family owned business has continued to expand and diversify its operations throughout its history. John serves as the company general manager while Peter is operations manager. Operating under three separate divisions Farming Operations, Packaging Warehouse, and Beef Production W.P. Griffin Inc. annually grows approximately 1,100 acres of potato, 1,000 acres of grains and 600 acres of hay. They also finish 300-400 beef cattle and continue to expand operations with grading, packaging and shipping potatoes. Beef production fits well with the potato operations and other crops, John says, noting that the culled potatoes are fed to the cattle along with the grains, while the straw is used for bedding. In turn, he continues, manure is good to go back on the land. W.P. Griffin has always purchased potatoes from other growers and marketed them under the company labels Griffin Brand, Bud the Spud and Tall Pines. In addition, Griffins is the sole potato packer in Canada registered to use the Dole brand. The company packs and ships between 20 million and 30 million pounds of potatoes annually. Since the late 1960s, Sobeys Inc. has been the company largest customer, with product shipped to Toronto, Montreal and Boston as well. Abreast of industrial trends, in 1988 the company undertook a major expansion at the Elmsdale plant to facilitate washing table potatoes. The trend toward washed potatoes was just in its infancy, which in the years that followed proved W.P. Griffin to be among the industry trendsetters. That same year, the Griffins began sizing potatoes for uniformity and packing them in cardboard boxes for restaurants. For example, an 80-count designation would mean the box contains 50 pounds of 10-ounce potatoes. "In 1996 we did another upgrade, explains John. The company purchased computerized equipment so that the grading, sizing and packaging operations would run more efficiently. Continuing in their pursuit to improve, in 2000 the Griffi ns upgraded their bagging operation to facilitate five-pound plastic bags to again keep pace with an emerging trend. Over the last several years, John explains, the industry standard has changed from 10-pound paper bags to five-pound poly(urethane). Now it's a larger part of what we do. Tall Pines is the original brand for unwashed potatoes; Bud the Spud brand emerged to market washed potatoes; and Griffin Brand, the newest, came about to market premium quality potatoes in plastic bags. Other emerging trends that are driving changes at W.P. Griffin Inc. include the popularity of baked potatoes as a fastfood restaurant item, a decline in demand for potatoes due to the popularity of the high-protein/low carbohydrate Atkins diet; and the North America-wide glut of potatoes. The Griffins response: A premium packaged potato. Working with three other potato packers and the P.E.I. Food Trust, a new potato product entered the Ontario market in November 2013 Fresh Obsessions. Hand-select premium potatoes are packaged four to a tray, or individually in microwave oven-ready shrink-wrap. These fetch a premium price at select A&P Stores in Ontario. The Fresh Obsessions campaign also includes displays of various types of potatoes in atmosphere-controlled glass bins, promoted by their best-suited cooking methods. Fresh Obsession potatoes are produced by a half-dozen growers who meet the rigid standards. Another direction the industry is headed requires that all bagged product can be traced back through lot numbers imprinted on the packages. W.P. Griffin is on the forefront of that change, having already implemented an HACCP program that not only identifi es the packaging lot number, but also the field from which the contents were harvested. As the various agricultural sectors W.P. Griffin is involved with continue to change according to consumer demands, it's a sure bet John and Peter have their fingers on the pulse and will lead the industry in meeting changes. To achieve their goals, the Griffins employ between 15 and 50 people throughout their operations.
Launch of New Web Site
Wednesday January 21, 2004
We are proud to bring you a fresh look with new and updated content to stay on top of the W.P. Griffin potato product line. We have expanded the brands under which we market our potatoes. We have added more information about our farming operation, including a section on our cattle operation. We have added some potato recipes as per the request of our consumers. For your convenience, we have added a "What's New" section to stay on top of what's happening on the Griffin farm. In addition, browse through our Bud the Spud outlet for souvenirs, giftware, crafts and T-shirts with a potato theme. We look forward to your comments or questions, as well as doing business with you!
W.P. Griffin Inc. - chosen to be a supplier for FoodTrust of PEI
Saturday November 1, 2003
The FoodTrust of PEI, a distributor of Prince Edward Island products has chosen W.P. Griffin Inc. to supply single shrink wrapped microwave ready baked potatoes and top quality choice bulk potatoes for their retail markets. FoodTrust of PEI has established strict standards for their suppliers that met or exceed current standards. They include; Environmental Farm Plan, Buffer Zones, Minimum 3 year rotation & HACCP-based On-Farm Food Safety. W.P. Griffin Inc./FoodTrust of PEI products are available in A&P stores in Central Canada.
WP Griffin installs full traceback system
Wednesday April 23, 2003
Food safety has become a watchword in today's marketplace, but putting a quality product on the store shelves doesn't happen by accident. For WP Griffin Inc. in Elmsdale, it has meant the installation of a quality control system that allows them to trace back every step along the food chain from the farmer's field to the consumer's table. With funding help from the P.E.I. ADAPT Council (which administers the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development Fund in the province) the company instituted changes in its packing line in late 2002. Company president John Griffin said both the consumer and large retail chains are now beginning to insist on a trace back mechanism for all food products. "Our company prides itself on offering a safe, clean, superior product," Griffin said. The company packages products in both plastic and paper bags, and each requires a different labelling system. For the plastic bags, two label printers were installed on the poly "Kwik-Lok" machines that seal the bags. A seven digit number is put on the bag containing both a lot number and the date packaged. In the case of the paper bags, an inkjet printer/swivel arm is used to do the labelling. Griffin explained that having the packaging date on the bag has other benefits besides the trace back feature in the even of an emergency. Produce managers in the stores that carry the company's brands can display the freshest possible product. "I have no doubt this is quickly going to become the standard in the industry." he said. In fact, the Canadian Horticultural Council is currently developing a food safety program for all horticultural crops including potatoes. With some very minor adjustments, the Griffin operation will be in a position to be validated under the national program once it come fully on-stream. The company is a major employer in the West Prince area with a workforce of 15-45 people, depending on the time of year. They grade their own potatoes as well as those from other farmers. The company has designated one staff member to operate and maintain the labelling equipment on a regular basis. However, all staff on the production line have been trained to use the equipment if necessary. Griffin said the new system has necessitated some changes right through the system. Foremen must now record the codes on the invoices and the office staff must make sure the information included in all of its paperwork. The codes are stored on computer allowing company officials ready access to the information in case of an emergency. "Our customers benefit by having a safer product," John said. "if a customer is happy with their purchase, the whole industry benefits." John said he is pleased with how the system has been working so far adding "we look at it as something similar to insurance - we hope we are never in the position to have to trace back our product but it does give both consumers and ourselves a comfort level knowing the system is in place." (This is one of a series of articles prepared by the P.E.I. Agricultural Awareness Committee to highlight new and innovative developments in the province's farming community and is funded through the PEI ADAPT Council.)
