Ensuring Cheese Quality Through Advanced Weighing and Inspection Systems
Accuracy = Trust
Consumers are more demanding than ever before. Winning and retaining their loyalty involves more than just delivering an adequate and consistent product. Savvy customers want to be assured that they are getting exactly what they are promised; exactly what’s advertised on the label. Any producer who underestimates the power of the consumer, risks exposing themselves to social media fuelled criticism or an expensive PR campaign to recover their brand credibility. For cheese products, the label really has to do the heavy lifting. It must convey the brand story, attract an audience and carry detailed (and regulated) information. It’s a big ask for a small space.
And the subject of product labelling seems to be a well debated topic. It’s often lobbied for by groups campaigning to influence government legislation. Indeed, much has been made about misleading or less than transparent information. With the spotlight on producer, labels must work hard to assure the public that they are trustworthy.
Meeting standards
In fact, the regulations surrounding the labelling of produce in the UK are very robust. The requirements include a long list of mandatory information, including weights, which must be within a strict tolerance. Supermarkets demand that shapes and sizes must be uniform and consistent, otherwise products can be rejected. Other information, such as allergens, place of origin, the manufacturer, nutritional information and of course, the expiry date, must also be on the label. Even the size of the printed text is subject to a minimum standard to ensure legibility. Retailing cheese is a complex business.
Misrepresentation on the packaging can be the starting point for a damaging customer complaint, or worse, a legal challenge by the Food Standards Agency. Producers face costly fines or inconvenient product recalls if their labelling does not meet regulatory standards.
In May 2025, JOD Foods (Ireland) recalled eighteen of their cheese products. Hi-tech systems, which track individual blocks, would undoubtedly make the recall process easier.
Investing in hi-tech weighing, inspection and labelling systems offers cheese producers a solution that delivers long-term economies for their business and quality assurances for customers.
Hi-tech solutions
As well as giving buyers relevant information about a product, a modern system provides the producer with enhanced traceability opportunities. Traceability in the dairy sector is a mandatory requirement, but it’s also a vital element for maintaining customer confidence. Businesses who react quickly to operational issues, and take action to resolve them, might find that their credibility as a supplier improves, rather than suffers. The swift and targeted execution of a recall, via the tracking system, is perceived as responsible, while a poorly managed response may attract negative publicity. Customers at large are more forgiving when their favourite brand takes ownership of a problem and can be seen to be resolving the problem.
In terms of credibility, an investment that prevents problems and guarantees quality, is preferable to a PR crisis.
Savings aren’t confined to the traceability function alone. Advanced weighing and cutting capabilities help to reduce waste and save costs. Smart weighing achieves precise sizing and tolerances, meaning less rejected blocks. Uniform sizing allows for more economical onward packaging; it all adds up to a more sustainable practice and an improved bottom line.
And it’s not just the larger producers that benefit from this technology. With systems tailor made for individual businesses, even smaller artisanal cheese makers can take advantage and make long-term savings.
Experts in action
Inspiron Systems have been supplying weighing, labelling and inspection machinery for almost half a century. Their family-owned business has embraced new technology as it emerges, configuring it to accommodate the delicate process of packaging cheese. No one knows more about the subject than their team of experts, and no one offers such a personalised service to producers. From supply to installation, consultation and ongoing technical support, their reputation for quality and value is well deserved.
Inspiron Systems uses XTrace technology that tracks individual items and can identify a cheese’s origins, right through to pallet shipping. It’s an incredible benefit to producers, whatever their scale. They’ve also partnered with Espera, designers of AI driven systems that take cheese packaging to the next level.
To find out more about Inspiron, they will be at the International Cheese & Dairy EXPO at Staffordshire County Showground on 25th and 26th of June this year. They’ll be demonstrating machinery and software, and they’ll be on hand to offer advice.
Visit Inspiron Systems or call them at +44(0)1788 890235 to learn about their solutions for improving your dairy operations.
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