Market Food Group demands the utmost from lubricants

Above our heads, four conveyor belts carry pre-baked Cheese Onion Rolls as they cool. Soon, these will be frozen to -80°C, to be baked on the market. Amidst all the steam, heat, and cold, everything needs to run smoothly, both logistically and literally. "Nothing can stagnate."

Market Food Group in Spakenburg produces items for Bakkerij ’t Stoepje and the organic breads of Le Perron, among others. And more! Roel Blokhuis, the procurement manager of the modern bakery, lists: "We bake bread products for supermarkets and wholesalers, provide custom private label solutions, and handle concept, brand, and product development. Since acquiring Faber Bakery, we have two bakeries in Bunschoten, one in Hoogeveen, one in Apeldoorn, and five distribution centers. All locations are now certified according to the CSRD guideline (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive). We have around 450 employees in total. But note: we don't have a catalog. Customers often have something specific in mind, and we ensure they can distinguish themselves with it. Think of size, shape, and so on. Everyone gets unique, tailor-made products. All our bakeries are set up for this customization."

The bar is high

Roel: "Soon, the bakery in Spakenburg (Bunschoten) will undergo a complete renovation. Six static ovens will replace the rotary ovens, specifically for organic and hard bread. An eighteen-meter deck oven with three decks will also be installed. They will be heated with thermal oil, significantly reducing energy costs. Just like the new spiral freezer, which freezes products from +25°C to -20°C in no time and reduces nitrogen usage by 30% compared to the previous tunnel freezer. A cold storage facility for 2,000 pallets is also planned for this fall. Factually, the inspection standards at all levels are continually rising. The industry is keeping up the pace."

From left to right: Anton van Halteren and Roel Blokhuis, with Jason de Vaal, account manager FenS

Safety standards

An example of this is FenS. This company has been working with Market Food Group for decades and supplies high-quality food-safe lubricants from Bechem. With the NSF certification, they meet the strict safety standards for the food industry. "Cleaning and lubrication are critical," emphasizes Anton van Halteren, head of technical services at Market Food Group. He demonstrates this at the bakery on Palingweg. Dough is turned in large tumblers, rests to rise, and goes into bread molds to the second proofer; currently set at 30°C with 80% humidity. Then the trays go into the oven. Baking times and temperatures, often up to 250°C, vary depending on the type of bread or cookies. On the day the interview was taken, two thousand pieces of Sportmik (a popular high-protein, low-carb bread) are being baked. Twenty meters away, the four conveyor belts with pre-baked Cheese Onion Rolls rotate at a considerable height. There's activity everywhere - and a similar process occurs at the other locations.

Colored spray cans

Not only the most delightful smells, but also steam, heat, and (freezing) cold penetrate every corner and crevice. This includes the crucial chains, bearings, and conveyor belts. Anton: "A bakery demands the utmost from lubricants. Just the daily cleaning under high pressure, with dry ice and chemicals. All dirt must be removed, but the protective oil layer must remain. Otherwise, the risk of corrosion, wear, and defects is too high. If the oven's conveyor belt stagnates, not only will these two thousand loaves burn, but the entire production will come to a halt. The kneaded and risen dough can't be left until later; it would have to be discarded. Therefore, all equipment requires periodic maintenance, plus a weekly lubrication routine. Additionally, automatic lubrication units are installed everywhere."

Reliable

Market Food Group briefly experimented with other oils but quickly reverted. "FenS proved to be the most reliable," says Anton. "Their consideration of exactly the right types of oils and specifications, the food safety, the safety data sheets they provide, their accessibility; everything. A good example is the spray cans provided at all critical points. In the past, you had cans with a nozzle. You had to put them on correctly and be very careful not to lose them. FenS supplies spray cans that solve this problem with an ergonomic spray head. Additionally, each spray can has its own unique color, so no one ever picks the wrong one. We are fully taken care of."

"That is extremely important," says Roel. "Bread is a basic food, and many entrepreneurs are involved. Imagine placing your order neatly before three o'clock in the afternoon, only to discover the next morning that it can't be delivered. Try explaining that to your customers... Not an option. For us, it's like playing in the Champions League every day to exceed the expectations of our customers and their customers."

www.marketfoodgroup.nl
www.fens.com 

Photos: ©Ton Kastermans