Running a compliant food business, in plain language
Field notes on CFIA inspections, preventive control plans, traceability, and the day-to-day of running a licensed food business — in plain language.
Now Available: Co-packing support in Crown QMS
If a co-packer makes your product, record their runs in Crown and trace, recall and release them like batches you make yourself.
Food Safety Software for Canadian Manufacturers: What SFCR Actually Requires
Almost every food safety software comparison you'll find was written for FSMA. Here's what a Canadian operation is actually regulated against, and the questions that come before choosing a system at all.
Food Safety Software for Small Manufacturers
Most of this category is built for large facilities with dedicated QA managers or departments. If that's not you, the buying advice written for them is worse than useless.
The gap between a spreadsheet and $30,000 a year
Six weeks into building Crown, a food manufacturing ERP vendor got in touch. I asked one question, and the answer confirmed what I had already worked out.
Best Food Safety and QMS Software for Small Manufacturers (2026)
We checked what all ten platforms in this category publish, then worked out which one fits which kind of operation.
QMS Software for Food Manufacturing: What to Look For
Most quality management systems were built for discrete manufacturing and adapted for food afterwards. Here is what a food plant actually needs, and how to test for it before you buy.
How Much Does QMS Software Cost for a Small Food Manufacturer?
Most vendors hide their pricing behind a demo request. Here is what QMS software actually costs, what drives the number, and which fees tend to show up late.
What Food Safety Software Actually Costs
Almost every vendor in this category hides its pricing. We opened all ten public pricing pages in August 2026 and wrote down what we found.
CCPs vs process controls: what's the difference for small food manufacturers?
CCPs and process controls are related but not the same thing. Here's what each term means, where they differ, and why it matters for your food safety program.
How to Run a Mock Recall — and Build a Program Around It
A mock recall tests your traceability before a real event does. Here’s how to run one in about two hours, and how to turn a once-a-year exercise into a program that actually finds problems.
Why spreadsheets fail food safety audits (and what to use instead)
Spreadsheets feel like a reasonable solution until an auditor arrives. Here's where they break down in food safety programs — and what to use instead.
What is a hazard analysis in food manufacturing, and how do you complete one?
Every food safety program starts with a hazard analysis. Here's what one actually involves, how to work through it systematically, and what the finished document needs to show — for both Canadian and US regulatory frameworks.