Case Study: How Greenfield Farm Cut Recall Costs by 90%
Real-world example of how one UK organic farm implemented traceability and dramatically reduced recall costs while improving customer trust.
About Greenfield Organic Farm
Farm Details
- • 150-acre organic farm in Kent
- • Specializes in strawberries and leafy greens
- • Supplies 3 major UK retailers
- • 12 full-time employees
Annual Production
- • 200+ batches per year
- • £2.3M annual revenue
- • 15,000+ products monthly
- • 5-year organic certification
The Challenge: Manual Tracking and High Recall Costs
Before implementing TraceFood, Greenfield Farm faced significant challenges with their manual tracking system:
Paper-Based System
All batch tracking done on paper forms, making it difficult to trace products quickly
Slow Recall Response
Previous recall took 5 days to identify all affected products, costing £85,000
Limited Customer Transparency
No way to provide customers with detailed product information or supply chain data
Compliance Concerns
Worried about meeting upcoming 2026 EU traceability requirements
The Solution: TraceFood Implementation
Greenfield Farm implemented TraceFood in March 2024. Here's how they did it:
Implementation Timeline
Week 1-2: Setup & Training
Team training on TraceFood platform and QR code generation
Week 3-4: Data Migration
Uploaded existing batch data and created product profiles
Week 5-6: QR Code Rollout
Started generating QR codes for new batches
Week 7-8: Full Integration
All products now include QR codes and full traceability
Key Features Implemented
- • Digital batch tracking system
- • QR code generation for all products
- • Real-time supply chain updates
- • Customer-facing traceability pages
- • Automated compliance reporting
- • Mobile app for field workers
- • Integration with existing systems
- • Analytics dashboard
The Test: Real Recall Scenario
Just 3 months after implementation, Greenfield Farm faced their first test - a potential contamination issue with batch #ORG-370981:
The Situation
Quality control detected potential contamination in a batch of organic strawberries. The farm needed to quickly identify all affected products and notify customers.
Batch Details:
- • Batch ID: ORG-370981
- • Product: Organic Strawberries
- • Harvest Date: September 25, 2024
- • Quantity: 500kg
- • Distribution: 3 retailers, 15 locations
2-Hour Identification
TraceFood identified exactly 47 products from this batch across 3 retailers within 2 hours
Targeted Recall
Only affected products were recalled, saving £85,000 in unnecessary disposal costs
Customer Communication
QR codes provided instant product information, reducing customer service calls by 70%
Brand Protection
Transparent communication maintained customer trust and brand reputation
Results: Measurable Impact
Cost Savings
Operational Benefits
Customer Feedback and Market Response
The implementation of QR codes and traceability had a positive impact on customer relationships:
James Mitchell, Farm Manager
"TraceFood has transformed how we manage our operations. What used to take days now takes hours. Our customers love the transparency, and we've reduced our recall costs by 90%."
Sarah Chen, Retail Partner
"Working with Greenfield Farm has been a game-changer. Their traceability system gives our customers confidence, and their quick response times during issues protect our brand."
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
Key Success Factors
Implementation Tips:
- • Start with one product line
- • Train all team members thoroughly
- • Test QR codes before mass printing
- • Keep existing systems as backup initially
ROI Factors:
- • Reduced recall costs
- • Improved operational efficiency
- • Enhanced customer trust
- • Future compliance readiness
Ready to Achieve Similar Results?
Join hundreds of UK food producers who are already using TraceFood to reduce costs, improve transparency, and prepare for 2026 compliance.