Vikan proved to be the best match

"When it comes to our products, we know no compromise. The quality of products and services, the certifications and the excellent service from Vikan were important criteria for us. Sustainability is part of our philosophy, which is why we value that Vikan cleaning equipment is swan labelled."

Holger Wusten, hygiene operating officer at DEK Hamburg.

About Deutsche Extrakt Kaffee (DEK)

Founded in 1955, DEK is one of the major producers of soluble coffee and hot beverage products for own brand labels. DEK is part of Cafea Group, and responsible for sales and distribution of the group's products. The company controls the entire value chain - from procurement of raw materials through production and packaging to logistics. The DEK product range includes various soluble coffees such as espresso and cappuccino as well as hot chocolate and ice coffee. The company has approximately 360 employees and a Hamburg HQ.

The challenge

DEK supplies its customers with individually tailor-made coffee blends in a variety of different packaging options. This flexibility in production and packaging requires high hygiene standards to ensure high and consistent product quality, which also makes it possible to calculate the success of the different assortments.
Looking to achieve uniform hygiene standards across their European operations, DEK has implemented a HACCP quality management system certified to ISO 9001:2008, the International Food Standard (IFS) and the requirements of the BRC Global Standards.
DEK planned to develop and implement a customized colour coding system at operational plants across Europe as part of the company's own quality management system and had, for several years, been in search of an appropriate professional hygiene system and high-efficiency cleaning equipment.

The solution

Following a long trial period testing a range of competitor products, the Vikan colour-coding system and equipment proved to be the best match for DEK's high quality and hygiene requirements and needs.
Vikan worked with DEK to zone the different areas within the plant and allocate each a colour, before identifying and assigning appropriately colour-coded cleaning equipment and coordinating wall storage brackets. The colour coding contributes greatly to ensuring high hygiene standards can be met and maintained as equipment in the wrong zone can be identified and removed immediately, while colour coding has been shown to motivate regular tool use and return. Vikan equipment in need of renewal can also be promptly identified and replaced.

DEK also values the certifications that Vikan has achieved, including the swan labelling of cleaning equipment that documents a responsible use of resources. The swan label is the Scandinavian eco-labelling of products, covering the complete life cycle of a product from compliance with sustainable standards in the manufacture of the materials and during use through to recycling. These include the origin of raw materials, energy and water consumption, waste, chemical use, packaging and waste recycling. Knowledge of how the equipment used in the factory is produced is important in opening up future cooperation possibilities for DEK.