The Blommer Team certainly believes in the strength and power of networking and in sharing experiences.    And a perfect example of that belief is our upcoming special best practice - workshop session focusing on "Getting Traction with Your Planning Process" on September 14th, 2010! It is not only an opportunity for them to share what they have learned but it also affords participants the chance to focus on some of their own challenges and through team work perhaps find some resolutions to the roadblocks they may be encountering!

They are a very worthy candidate of the Excellence in Manufacturing Award that they received earlier this year! Our heartiest congratulations to the Team at Blommer Chocolate! 

Campbellford's Blommer Chocolate wins award for excellence
Northumberland News - The Independent
Aug 26, 2010 - 04:20 AM
Paul J. Rellinger

CAMPBELLFORD -- How sweet it is. And for Blommer Chocolate in Campbellford, it's only getting sweeter.

The only Canadian branch of the North American chocolate manufacturing giant recently has been recognized on the national stage after it was awarded the EMC (Excellence in Manufacturing - Consortium) Award of Excellence.

At the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Glanbrook, Ont., EMC recently hosted its annual Awards of Excellence gala during its national manufacturing conference.

The focus at this year's event was 'Building the Case for Manufacturing In Canada' and according to EMC, only a few companies across Canada have exemplified this at the same level as Blommer Chocolate Company of Canada.

Doug Harper, general manager of Blommer Chocolate, credits a strong work ethic and great employees as the key to the company's success.

"It's all about improving the culture at work," said Mr. Harper. "And in doing so, we have had huge growth and have been able to handle that level of growth."

EMC echoed what Mr. Harper said, stating that Mr. Harper's team has incorporated continuous improvements into its work culture, giving them enterprise-wide success.

"We significantly reduced our labour and overhead costs while increasing our capacities and capabilities," said Mr. Harper. "Our focus on developing a supportive culture first allowed us to do the heavy lifting ourselves when it came to actually improving our performance."

In 2006, Chicago-based Blommer Chocolate announced the purchase of the 85,000 square foot chocolate manufacturing facility from World's Finest Chocolate.

"We achieved some success as World's Finest Chocolate," said Mr. Harper. "However, as Blommer Chocolate, if we continue to do what we do, we will be providing leadership throughout the company, despite being such a small company here."

According to EMC, Blommer Chocolate's efforts have not only resulted in its success, but its cultural openness towards learning has helped other manufacturing peers across Canada. Mr. Harper writes an online blog for EMC, in which he explains and discusses Blommer Chocolate's approach and the achievements are available for other manufacturers.

"For any manufacturer looking to become more productive and competitive, they need to engage the human side of their organization," he said.

According to its website, Blommer Chocolate is a dominant North American and emerging world supplier of quality chocolate products, specialty cocoas and coatings.

If you are interested in attending the Special Event at Blommer Chocolate on September 14th, 2010, please email me at bmckeachnie@emccanada.org and we would be happy to add you to our Guest List!

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Take care,

Bren