Customer Stories

First Watch Advances Food Safety, Reduces Response Time for Recalls

Learn how First Watch is using mock recalls in FoodLogiQ Recall to transform “Daytime Dining” with preventive food safety practices resulting in a 10x reduction of withdrawal times during mock recalls using FoodLogiQ Recall.

Sometimes a restaurant concept comes along that just feels right; it’s a place where customers want to be. That’s First Watch.

This high-growth daytime restaurant serves made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch with a focus on fresh ingredients (you won’t find fryers, microwaves or heat lamps here). A recipient of more than 300 local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch offers traditional favorites. Think pancakes, omelets, sandwiches and salads (yum), alongside a variety of specialty items. They are famous for their Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos and the Power Breakfast Quinoa Bowl. Doors open from 7 am to 2:30 pm each day at each of its more than 365 restaurants.

First Watch logo

High-Quality Promises Require Tech Solutions

“We pride ourselves on our unique and elevated approach to daytime dining. Each First Watch restaurant uses high quality, fresh ingredients. We have to ensure that these quality standards are met every day,” says Jasmine Hagan, Senior Quality Assurance Manager.

Additionally, growth was a factor. And consequently, First Watch needed a solution that could grow with them.

“We’ve been experiencing some major growth and were looking for a supply chain management solution to exceed industry standards to ensure First Watch stays on the forefront of quality assurance and food safety.  We had an extensive list of requirements for a solutions platform. These requirements not only included quality assurance functionality to improve our efficiency and accuracy, quality record collection and documentation; we also wanted to improve supplier collaboration and our own internal processes and to make sure we protect our brand by lowering supply chain risk.  After vetting many different supplier management options, we chose Trustwell Connect for their robust solutions platform.”

Why FoodLogiQ Compliance & Recall?

In order to ensure recall readiness, First Watch selected FoodLogiQ Compliance for their supplier quality assurance program and FoodLogiQ Recall to help manage their recall program.

“One of the many reasons we chose FoodLogiQ software was that we wanted to improve our recall program by communicating quickly and efficiently with our restaurants during a recall or withdrawal,” explains Hagan. “We were extremely impressed with FoodLogiQ’s capabilities; there are very few solutions on the market today that have the same functionality.”

Using Mock Recalls in FoodLogiQ Recall

Importantly, as part of their Trustwell Connect implementation, First Watch hosted a series of mock recalls to test the system. Following that process, Hagan had some impressive metrics to report:

  • 87% of First Watch restaurants completed the mock withdrawal within two (2) hours of notification.  A few weeks prior, 84% of restaurants had completed a withdrawal within 24 hours of notification (not using FoodLogiQ).
  • Within four (4) hours of notification, 97% of restaurants had completed the withdrawal.
  • 100% completion of withdrawal within 24 hours of notification.
  • Statistics continue to improve; the most recent recall initiated resulted in 100% completion of product within 2 hours.

“It’s all about continuous improvement, collaboration and transparency.” says Hagan. “First Watch is committed to quality assurance, and we strive to provide the highest level of food safety to maintain trust with our customers. FoodLogiQ provides a platform to facilitate this.”

Learn how you can execute a mock withdrawal to help with you become more recall ready in our on-demand webinar, How to Cut Your Recall Solution Time in Half Using Mock Recalls.