Organic foods manufacturer taps IFS business software to support rapid growth
Toronto — February 18, 2005 — IFS said this week that Nature's Path Foods Inc., which sells the No. 1 brand of organic breakfast foods in North America, has signed a contract to implement IFS Applications business software.
Nature's Path, with head offices in Richmond, British Columbia, will use IFS' supply chain management, financial, engineering and product design, sales and marketing, document management, and quality management applications at its 400,000 square-foot owned manufacturing and distribution facilities in the United States and Canada.
The organic foods manufacturer markets its cereals, energy bars, cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, baking mixes, breads and toaster waffles under the Nature's Path, EnviroKidz, Manna and LifeStream brands.
"We needed an open, flexible enterprise system that would support an annual growth rate of 25 to 30 percent over the next three to five years," said Arran Stephens, president and founder of Nature's Path Foods. "After evaluating several other product offerings, we felt that IFS Applications would best meet our needs. The IFS system will provide better visibility of critical information, such as costing, inventory, scheduling and product management, throughout our enterprise. IFS' functionality, including lot traceability and quality management, will enable us to improve quality and productivity, reduce costs and better serve our customers as we continue to grow."
Trudie Carlesso, president of IFS Canada, said, "Nature's Path Foods is widely known not only for its tremendous success in a fast-growing market but also for its exemplary business values, commitment to the environment and sustainability. We feel that Nature's Path and IFS are an excellent fit, and we look forward to partnering with them to help them achieve even greater heights in growth and profitability."
The process industry is one of IFS' targeted market segments. IFS provides industry-specific support for enterprises in the pulp and paper, metal, paint and adhesive, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industry segments.
IFS customers in the food and beverage industry include Pepsi Shanghi, The Iams Co., Kettle Foods, Tazo Tea, Harry's Fresh Foods, Apffels Coffee, Freybe Gourmet Foods, and Canbra Foods. Other process industry customers include Willamette Valley Co., Jotun, SICPA, ANI Printing Inks, and SCA.
