BACKGROUND

Since 1868, Guittard Chocolate Company has been making premium

chocolates and chocolate products in California. Through more than 150

years of innovation, the family-run company has delivered the highest quality

available premium chocolate products and was among the first to begin

testing for Salmonella in the 1970s. From traditional cultural testing to ELISA to

PCR, Guittard has long been an innovator in confirming the quality and safety

of their product. Today, the international retailer relies on GENE-UP to detect

and identify contaminants in its on-demand products before final shipment.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES

After years of quality control testing with a competitor’s PCR system, Guittard’s quality team was looking for

a change. The old process was tedious with unreliable reagents and standards that resulted in several false

positives—halting production, threatening reputation, and sacrificing the bottom line. The company conducted

a comparative analysis study to find the system that would most effectively reduce risk while increasing

performance. Together with the bioMérieux scientific support team, Guittard conducted a rigorous 9 month

evaluation. At the conclusion of the study, Guittard leadership made the decision to adopt GENE-UP for all

pathogen testing.

• Reduce false positives

• Improve reliability of reagents

• Choose the right system to fit the company’s on-demand production needs

CASE STUDY

Guittard Chocolate Company Reduces False Positives by 30% with GENE-UP®.

bioMérieux, Inc. • 100 Rodolphe Street • Durham, NC 27712 • U.S.A.Tel: (800) 682 2666 • Fax: (800) 968 9494www.biomerieux-usa.com • www.biomerieux-industry.com©

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RESULTS

After implementing the GENE-UP® system with bioMérieux, Guittard noted a 30% reduction in false positives.

The team also reports an increase in efficiency, giving them more time to focus on other laboratory responsibilities.

Additionally, VILINK®—a remote support tool—has made it possible for rapid assistance, reducing downtime and

increasing productivity.

Improved laboratory efficiency

30% reduction in false positives

Time and cost savings

Faster response time when a contaminant is detected

Protected reputation

It’s always good to be associated with leaders in the industry—

bioMérieux is the largest in the world. It’s a great reflection on our

testing program with our customers and potential customers working

with a world leader like bioMérieux. When we give tours of the lab, our

customers are always impressed by our commitment to food safety, all

the way to the top of the organization.

“

”– Ken Givich, Director of Microbiology, SQF, Compliance, Guittard Chocolate Company