In Brussels, where culinary tradition meets innovation, the Brussels Centre for Food Expertise, known as BRUCEFO, plays a vital role in supporting the development of the local food industry.
BRUCEFO (Brussels Centre for Food Expertise) is a public service that offers personalized advice in the field of food competencies. It is part of the Department of Economy and Employment within the Brussels Regional Public Service.
This service is aimed at both companies and self-employed individuals, with the goal of promoting sustainable economic development for those business owners and entrepreneurs dedicated to the food sector. To achieve this, BRUCEFO has a laboratory that provides consultancy and analysis services as well as official accreditations to ensure the quality and safety of food products produced in the region.
COMPANY INFORMATION
- Company: BRUCEFO, the Brussels Centre for Food Expertise
- Founded: 1930
- Location: Brussels
- Activity: Food consulting
- Vertical autoclave TERRA Food-Tech® CFS-50V
Problem: Offering food consultancy services for small local producers
With the aim of promoting and supporting the development of the food industry, BRUCEFO provides a wide range of services, including both analysis and consulting.
Their services include water potability testing, chemical and microbiological analysis of food, nutritional composition assessment of ingredients, results interpretation, support in developing new recipes, compliance with current regulations, selection of appropriate packaging, label creation and compliance with EU Regulation 1169/2011, shelf-life determination, development of self-monitoring/HACCP plans, and allergen management.
As a public service, BRUCEFO is committed to staying up to date with the latest products, techniques, and studies in the food sector. This includes understanding market trends at both global and local levels. Staying current, and even anticipating new industry developments, necessitates the adoption of new methodologies and all that this entails.
Challenge: Testing and validating pasteurization and sterilization processes
Many of BRUCEFO’s clients, particularly entrepreneurs and small-scale producers, face a recurring challenge: they often lack the resources and expertise necessary to determine the most suitable preservation method for their products. Ensuring food safety is crucial, but implementing these processes can be costly and complex, especially for smaller producers.
To support these businesses, BRUCEFO recognized the need in 2023 to expand their services by offering clients the opportunity to test and validate pasteurization and sterilization processes. This expansion required specialized equipment that would allow producers to observe and understand the effects of these processes on their products firsthand.
Solution: Collaboration with BRS and TERRA Food-Tech®
To enable small businesses to directly experiment with their recipes and assess the benefits of pasteurization and sterilization processes, BRUCEFO sought equipment that was easy to install, user-friendly, and manufactured by a trusted company. After researching and comparing various types of food sterilizers, they eventually contacted BRS, their local distributor of TERRA Food-Tech® autoclaves.
BRS carefully assessed BRUCEFO’s needs and recommended a vertical autoclave with a 55-liter capacity, the CFS-50V model. Both the installation and the subsequent operation were supervised and guided at all times by BRS’s technical professionals.
With this autoclave, small Belgian producers can now test their recipes directly and observe the effects of pasteurization and sterilization in a controlled environment, enhancing the safety and shelf life of their products while maintaining quality. Additionally, it provides them with hands-on experience using a food autoclave, helping them consider its potential integration into their own production processes.
“At BRUCEFO, we believe that the TERRA Food-Tech® autoclave is an excellent choice for small-scale production companies due to its ease of use and flexibility.”
Jurgen Denys, Director of BRUCEFO
The Role of BRS and BRUCEFO in promoting food innovation in Brussels
The acquisition of the autoclave was made possible through a collaborative agreement with BRS, the local distributor of TERRA Food-Tech® in Belgium. Their role was crucial in establishing and strengthening this strategic partnership with BRUCEFO.
On one hand, BRS provided this compact food autoclave, helping small and medium-sized local businesses access advanced technology and experiment with preservation processes without incurring high initial costs. Additionally, they use their laboratory to showcase the equipment to potential clients and even rely on its services to validate their pasteurization or sterilization processes through microbiological analysis. The whole process is now available as a service. Your can also download the brochure here: Sterilization and pasteurization with Terra-Brucefo-web
“We are very pleased to work with BRUCEFO to demonstrate how our solutions, such as the compact food autoclave from TERRA Food-Tech®, can make a real difference for local businesses. This collaboration not only benefits both parties but also drives growth and innovation in the food sector in Brussels.”
Daisy Tavares, Marketing and Communication Manager at BRS
On the other hand, BRUCEFO, known for its expertise in the sector, goes beyond theoretical advice by offering practical, hands-on support. By providing access to the autoclave, BRUCEFO allows small businesses to experiment with their own products in a controlled environment, giving clients a tangible and valuable opportunity to improve their production processes.
“The collaboration with BRS has been essential in expanding our services and offering our clients new opportunities for innovation. Thanks to their expertise and support, we have been able to provide access to cutting-edge technologies, helping them improve the quality of their products and make better decisions.”
Jurgen Denys, Director of BRUCEFO
This partnership demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can address challenges and create new opportunities within the food industry. By providing direct access to advanced equipment and technical expertise, BRUCEFO and BRS are driving small producers and local entrepreneurs toward sustainable growth. This support empowers them to thrive in an increasingly competitive market, enabling the creation of safe, fresh, and high-quality products that meet the expectations of modern consumers.