Prior to COVID-19, we didn’t put much thought into obtaining cleaning and sanitation solutions – it just wasn’t an issue.
The pandemic has since caused significant turbulence in the overall supply chain. Suppliers have continuously fought battles with product shortages and bottlenecks, in addition to the many challenges related to transportation, weather, and labor.
As a result, there is an increasing number of chemical issues facing the brewing industry.
Here’s what is happening:
- Ingredient suppliers are seeing longer lead times. In many cases, those lead times have dragged out to eight to 12 weeks or longer.
- Many chemical commodities and raw materials are in short supply. Lactic acid, propylene glycol, certain surfactants, and silica/silicate-containing products (just to name a few) are under very tight supply and difficult to obtain.
- Freight continues to be very expensive due to weather and the trucker shortage in the U.S. Delays are widespread. Even if you are lucky enough to find what you need, getting it in a timely manner will most likely be difficult.
So, what happens when raw materials are unavailable?
When shortages occur, chemical blenders are sometimes forced to use alternative raw materials. While this is a short-term solution, the alternative ingredients used may not be as effective as the original ingredients.
This, in turn, may create new challenges for the end-user: the brewer and distiller. If the alternative raw ingredient does not work as well, it may take more time to clean, if at all, or it may not rinse as freely.
The result? Inconsistent flavor from batch to batch and potentially lower yields.
How can brewers and distillers ensure their chemical solutions achieve the necessary results to maintain consistency in flavor, shelf life, and yields?
Simply put, partner with a company that has high standards.
Birko is ISO 9000:2015 certified, which is the international standard that specifies requirements to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.
To meet the ISO 9001:2015 standards, each Birko product is supported by a Certificate of Analysis. This certificate attests that each product undergoes rigorous Quality Assurance testing with documented results.
The disrupted supply chain will remain in the U.S. for the foreseeable future. Still, brewers and distillers shouldn’t have to take on the additional burden of inferior products. Birko’s Brewing and Distilling sanitation products, backed by the best technical support in the industry, will help keep your facility FDA and OSHA compliant and your products world-class.
