Traceability at Every Step: How Breeder’s Choice Pet Foods Modernized Manufacturing with BatchMaster ERP 

📚 New Blog Posts

1. How to Cut the Cost of Poor Quality from 20% to Under 5% of Revenue

2. This Month in Process Manufacturing – August 2026

3. Inside a BatchMaster Implementation: 5 Lessons Learned

The Challenge: An Oversized System and Manual Processes

When new ownership took over Breeder’s Choice, the company inherited an ERP platform built for large enterprises, not mid-sized manufacturers. Leadership needed a system that actually fit the size and complexity of the business.

1. Manual Tracking of Lots and QA Approvals

Key Takeaways:

• Lot tracking and QA approvals relied on manual processes
• Manual workflows increased the risk of delays and errors
• A pet food manufacturer needs airtight traceability at every step

What Happened:

Before BatchMaster, tracking lots and managing quality assurance involved manual processes that increased the risk of delays and errors, leaving quality control more vulnerable than a regulated food manufacturer can afford.

2. Inefficiencies in Procurement and Receiving

Key Takeaways:

• Purchasing, quality control, and accounting operated with limited shared visibility
• Lab supplies and raw materials were ordered without a connected system
• Disconnected procurement slowed decision-making across departments

What Happened:

Breeder’s Choice needed a better way to manage procurement. Previously, lab supplies and raw materials were ordered with limited visibility among purchasing, quality control, and accounting, making it difficult to coordinate the supply chain as a single process.

3. Compliance Risks and Lack of Integration

Key Takeaways:

• The oversized legacy ERP raised concerns about compliance and documentation
• Production and financials weren’t seamlessly integrated
• Limited visibility into operations made planning more difficult

What Happened:

With the older, oversized ERP system, concerns arose about maintaining compliance and ensuring quality documentation. Without seamless integration between production and financials, the company faced planning challenges and limited operational visibility.

The Solution: BatchMaster ERP with SAP Business One

Breeder’s Choice implemented BatchMaster ERP, integrated with SAP Business One, to meet the needs of a mid-sized pet food manufacturer, combining robust production management with integrated financials on a single platform.

All raw materials are now placed on quality hold upon receipt, giving the company control from start to finish. Breeder’s Choice is also one of the few pet food manufacturers that tests finished goods before release, ensuring products meet strict standards before they ever leave the plant.

Key Benefits of BatchMaster ERP

Operational Area	Impact of the Right Solution
Automated Lot Tracking & QA	Manual lot tracking and QA processes were replaced with automated controls, ensuring traceability across all nine production steps.
Positive Release System	No product enters or leaves the plant without meeting quality standards; raw materials are placed on automatic quality hold, and finished goods are tested before release.
Streamlined Procurement	Purchasing, receiving, quality control, and accounting now operate within the same system, giving every department real-time visibility into the supply chain.
Integrated Financials & Production	SAP Business One manages financials while BatchMaster manages production, giving Breeder’s Choice complete, end-to-end operational visibility.

Operational Impact

Since implementing BatchMaster ERP with SAP Business One, Breeder’s Choice has strengthened its operational foundation. The company can now:

• Maintain full traceability and visibility across production and quality processes
• Reduce compliance risk with a positive release system and QA-controlled manufacturing
• Eliminate manual tracking challenges with an integrated ERP solution
• Manage procurement and purchasing workflows directly tied to production needs
• Operate on a right-sized, scalable system built for a mid-sized manufacturer
• Support staff confidence and proficiency through training and ease of use

By replacing an oversized legacy ERP with a system built for its scale, Breeder’s Choice gained the consistency and control needed to meet regulatory demands while continuing to grow.

Advice for Other Manufacturers

Based on Breeder’s Choice’s experience, several lessons stand out for manufacturers evaluating ERP adoption:

• Choose a Right-Sized System: An food manufacturing ERP built for enterprise scale can create as many problems as it solves for a mid-sized manufacturer. The right fit matters more than the biggest name.
• Build Compliance Into the Process: A positive release system, quality holds on raw materials, and testing before finished goods ship keep compliance built into daily operations rather than bolted on afterward.
• Connect Procurement to Production and Finance: Tying purchasing, receiving, quality control, and accounting into one system removes the blind spots that slow decision-making.
• Plan for Full Traceability: Formula-based and regulated manufacturers need visibility into every step of production, from raw material receipt to finished goods release.

Conclusion

Breeder’s Choice Pet Foods’ shift from an oversized, disconnected ERP to BatchMaster with SAP Business One shows how choosing the right-sized platform can strengthen quality, compliance, and operational visibility for a mid-sized manufacturer. With full traceability across all nine steps of production and a system the team trusts and knows how to use, Breeder’s Choice is positioned to scale operations without sacrificing the quality standards that have defined the brand for over 75 years.