Why a major food and beverage conglomerate in Peru chose HunterLab Aeros to modernize snack food color control and future-proof their QA workflows
When a major American multinational confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate found out their aging D25NC color measurement instruments were discontinued, their Peru-based team faced a critical quality challenge. These instruments had long been trusted to measure the color of cookies, crackers, and other shelf-stable snack products. Losing them could mean inconsistent product quality, disrupted QA workflows, and noncompliance with evolving corporate standards like Six Sigma and MSA.
But replacing these legacy systems wasn’t just about swapping hardware. The replacement needed to:
- Deliver better accuracy for uneven snack surfaces
- Maintain compliance with internal corporate specifications and indices like Six Sigma and MSA
- Be backed by long-term service and support
- Ensure easy adoption by existing QA teams
They needed a future-ready solution that did not just meet the old standard—it needed to exceed it.
The Business Problem: Rising QA Demands, Discontinued Tools
The challenge in Peru was not unique. Across global operations, food manufacturers face mounting pressure to:
- Maintain consistent color across batches and geographies
- Satisfy increasingly stringent quality standards
- Reduce scrap and rework through accurate, objective data
- Modernize aging equipment without disrupting production
For the Peruvian operations of this global food conglomerate, the discontinued D25NC devices left a quality control gap. Manual workarounds or visual inspection were not viable alternatives. A solution had to be found that could adapt to the snack food category’s diverse textures and colors—without contact, grinding, or sample prep.
The Solution: Non-Contact, High-Performance Color Measurement with Aeros
The customer turned to HunterLab, a long-standing quality assurance partner known for food industry expertise. After an in-depth review of operational needs, HunterLab recommended transitioning to Aeros, the world's only smart non-contact spectrophotometer with a rotating, large-area measurement platform..
Why Aeros Was the Right Fit:
- Non-Contact, Minimal Prep Measurements:
Perfect for fragile and irregular snack foods like cookies, crackers amongst others—no grinding or flattening required. - Rotational Averaging for Irregular Samples:
With the industry’s largest rotating platform, Aeros measures up to 27.5 square inches in one rotation, capturing color more consistently than static point measurements. - Faster, More Repeatable QA:
With up to 35 readings per rotation in as little as 5 seconds, the system enabled quicker go/no-go decisions. - Supports Six Sigma and MSA Requirements:
Repeatability and statistical robustness made Aeros a strong match for the customer's corporate quality mandates. - Hybrid Support Model:
Recognizing their existing investment in D25NC instruments, HunterLab provided interim service support for legacy devices during the transition phase.
The Process: Smooth Transition, Strong Collaboration
HunterLab’s onboarding process was tailored to minimize disruption. It included:
- Custom method development: Color measurement routines were optimized specifically for the customer’s snack portfolio.
- On-site testing with real samples: Ensuring accuracy before full-scale rollout.
- Training and support for QA staff: Ensuring confidence in daily use.
- Proactive legacy support: Keeping D25NC units operational until Aeros systems were fully deployed.
The customer cited responsiveness, open communication, and industry-specific expertise as major reasons for their trust in HunterLab.
The Results: Improved Performance, Confident Teams, and Long-Term ROI
The transition to HunterLab Aeros brought measurable gains in both performance and user confidence:
- Greater Color Consistency:
Products that previously showed color variation now met tighter tolerances across batches, lines, and production shifts—reducing rework and boosting customer satisfaction. - Higher QA Confidence:
The intuitive interface and touchscreen controls allowed QA technicians to perform measurements without needing to be color science experts. With automated sample rotation and easy pass/fail indicators, decision-making became faster and more reliable. - Seamless Adoption by QA Teams:
One of the most critical success factors was how quickly the Aeros fit into the team’s existing workflow.- No complex training required: Operators familiar with the D25NC found the Aeros user-friendly and easy to understand, thanks to its modern UI and guided workflows.
- Clear result displays reduced interpretation errors, allowing teams to take immediate corrective action when needed.
- Minimal change management: Because Aeros handled a wide range of snack shapes and surfaces with no need for grinding, pressing, or manual prep, the measurement process stayed simple and efficient—just as teams were used to, but with far better results.
- Support when it mattered: HunterLab provided hands-on training, custom SOPs, and ongoing support to ensure that every shift was confident using the instrument independently within days.
- Corporate Compliance, Simplified:
With the ability to store and export measurement data, the Aeros helped the team comply with documentation requirements for Six Sigma and MSA protocols. - Future-Proofing QA Investment:
By upgrading to a cutting-edge, non-contact system and receiving continued support for legacy instruments during the transition, the customer not only avoided disruption but also gained a more scalable and reliable foundation for long-term quality assurance.
Why It Matters: A Blueprint for the Snack Industry
The challenges faced by this Peruvian team are common across snack food manufacturing:
- Products are irregular, fragile, or complex in color
- Manual color checks or instruments with small measurement areas create variability
- Corporate QA demands are rising globally
- Legacy equipment may be unsupported or unreliable
If your operation is facing similar issues, you are not alone. Many food and snack manufacturers are reevaluating their QA workflows and seeking smarter tools that deliver consistency, speed, and ROI.
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What Makes HunterLab Different
HunterLab stands out in three key areas:
- Food Industry Focus
Over 70 years supporting QA teams in food and beverage means our solutions speak your language. - Custom Onboarding & Method Development
We don’t drop a box on your dock. We partner with you to develop and validate real-world methods for your exact product specs. - Future-Ready Solutions
Whether you're using our latest Aeros or transitioning from older platforms, we keep your quality programs running strong.
Ready to Upgrade Your Color QC?
Explore how HunterLab Aeros can improve your snack food color measurement.
Request a demo tailored to your application, product type, and QA needs.
👉 Book a Free Consultation
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Final Takeaway
When a global snack leader needed to modernize their color quality program in Peru, they didn’t settle for the next-best option. They continued to choose a partner with the tools, expertise, and dedication to make color QA seamless.
If your snack food brand is ready to move beyond outdated methods and uncertain measurements, it’s time to discover the difference that non-contact, high-precision spectrophotometry can make.
Let HunterLab help you measure color like your customers see it—accurately, repeatably, and without compromise.
