Del Monte Foods, Inc.

Playing Ketchup

Since the late 1800s, Del Monte Foods has been recognized for providing quality foods to consumers across America and around the world. Del Monte Foods is home to some of America’s best known brands including Del Monte, Contadina, S&W, Starkist, 9 Lives, Gravy Train, and others. Del Monte also produces many well-known Private Label products. Hanford, California is home to one of Del Monte’s tomato processing plants.

The Right Stuff

Through the years, Del Monte Hanford staff created numerous line-of-business spreadsheets that were used to analyze and manage their business operations. Several years ago, Del Monte Hanford sought out a local Microsoft Certified Solution Provider to help them move to a more tightly integrated business application platform. SJV Tech was the right business partner at the right time.

Standard Tools

Del Monte Hanford uses Microsoft Office_® tools for word processing, spreadsheet, and line-of-business database applications. SJV Tech leveraged this investment in desktop productivity tools by using Microsoft Access as the front-end for the applications used by Del Monte Hanford staff. All application data is stored in a collection of Microsoft SQL Server databases. This combination of tools provides a user-friendly, robust, and secure information system platform.

A Successful Partnership

Tomato processing has some very specific business process requirements. For this reason, Del Monte Hanford could not use off-the-shelf software and instead invested in a partnership with SJV Tech to analyze, design, and implement a set of tightly integrated, custom-built, line-of-business applications. Modules developed so far include Product Specifications, Formulations, Raw Material Receiving and Inventory Management, Production, QA, Process Efficiency, Finished Goods Warehouse Management, Spare Parts Purchasing and Inventory Management, Fixed Assets, Capital Project Management, and Financial Reporting. All of the line-of-business applications have been developed to integrate with each other. Data is shared between departments in a secure environment.

Wireless Mobility

Products move quickly in and out of the Del Monte Hanford facility. It is imperative that product movement be tracked accurately and in real-time. Old information is useless information. SJV Tech has designed and implemented a wireless barcode application to track product movement. Prior to implementation of the wireless solution, data that was miskeyed was not caught until days later and time was lost tracking down these errors. Now with a simple, yet elegant, wireless solution, Del Monte Hanford no longer suffers from the data entry errors of the past, achieving an almost immediate Return On Investment.

Flexibility and Security

Del Monte Hanford has a very complex product line, with frequent changes. It is critical that line-of-business applications be flexible in their design and rapid in their development. In addition, some business data is sensitive in nature and must be protected so that only approved people can view and modify the data. SJV Tech has employed a project management approach that ensures tight security controls and rapid application development.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Del Monte has a long history in business. But they are not resting on their past accomplishments. Recent mergers and acquisitions have launched Del Monte into new product lines and rapidly changing business requirements. The world of information technology is also rapidly changing. SJV Tech has made a commitment to adjust and adapt to technology and to adjust and adapt to Del Monte’s new business requirements. This symbiotic relationship has proved successful in the past and will prove successful in the future.