Just over 27 years ago, Charlie Leroux purchased Howard Snacks. At the time, it was a struggling business looking for stability. Since then, Charlie has grown it to an 80,000 square-foot operation with nearly 70 employees.
A lifer in the food processing industry, Charlie started his career in the meatpacking business and a meat market for over 20 years before buying Howard’s Snacks. Based in Hamden, Connecticut, Howard’s produces delicious, crispy pork skins that are packaged and consumed across the country.
“We are a family-operated business,” Charlie said. “We have been here 27 years. We know our customers and our customers know us. We have a process. We do what works, but we still try to fine-tune where we can.”
The facility has over 20 fryers and produces roughly 15,000 pounds of used cooking oil each week. Charlie is well-versed in the process of disposing of used cooking oil and inedible meat byproduct. He built his own custom, industrial-sized tank for the facility that is equipped with heaters and a pump station that safely transfers the oil out of its fryers and into the tank.
“We were lucky that he understood the value of the quality of the oil,” Senior Account Executive Jean Tinnelly-Ross said. “It was unique that he did not need help with that. He already had a great solution in place.”
Despite a solution in place that fit, grease recycling was still a bit of a headache for Howard’s.
Howard’s was using a local provider that serviced the facility in an outdated truck with limited capacity. The provider did not have adequate equipment to properly get the oil out of the tank and was manually trying to skim the grease out without taking on any water.
Due to the limited capacity of the truck, the provider was not always emptying the tank completely and often required multiple pick-ups per week. This became a problem for a bustling facility like Howard’s that produces a high volume of grease. Additionally, Charlie did not feel as if he was being rebated competitively, as the price per pound rarely fluctuated for the entirety of his partnership with this local provider.
“I follow prices very closely. I watch the market,” Charlie said. “I never actually thought I was getting the exact weight. My belief turned out to be right. I am lucky I made the change when I did. I made the change just in time.”
Charlie sought a provider that could handle its high volume and offer a competitive, market-based rebate in a transparent manner. When Jeanie reached out, the two built up a trust and Charlie ultimately decided to switch to DAR PRO.
We were able to provide a reliable, weekly pick-up schedule that did not disrupt the facility’s daily operations. Company trucks are equipped with scales that provide the exact amount of oil collected on each pickup. DAR PRO’s service vehicles also connect directly to a valve on Howard’s tank and empty it entirely in a safe, clean and efficient manner. We provide Charlie with detailed service records and are always readily available should any issue arise.
It was good to get someone in here that could handle it. It’s just a better, more efficient operation,” Charlie said. “When something works better, that is a good thing. It’s safe and it is clean. This service is much better for us, and I am glad we made the switch.”
Howard’s now has a used cooking oil collection provider that is well-prepared to handle its high volume and the company’s growth. Charlie receives reliable details on service history and a competitive market rebate. With cooking oil prices rising, coupled with the amount of oil Howard’s burns through each week, an appropriate rebate makes a difference for their bottom line.
DAR PRO’s versatility in the ways we serve our customers allowed us to provide Howard’s with a better way to handle its used cooking oil without having to install a solution. Our experience and infrastructure allowed us to be able to easily adapt and improve what was already a viable solution from an equipment standpoint, making it easier for Howard’s to recycle its grease while providing seamless service that doesn’t disrupt their daily operations.
“The entire process is transparent,” Charlie said. “I no longer have to worry about my oil getting collected or whether the tank was completely emptied. I know exactly when they are coming and what is being picked up while getting a rebate check on time. The process is completely transparent and is a better way of doing things.”
DAR PRO Solutions is an industry leader in used cooking oil recycling for businesses across the country. Our program will help your business grow and will provide solutions that are a seamless fit for your kitchen. Call us 24/7/365 at 855-DAR-PRO1 (855-327-7761).
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