Industry:

Food & Beverage

Industry Application: Food Grade Platforms

Location: Seattle, WA

Objectives:

• Create an attractive elevated viewing platform for visitors
• Adhere to SQF compliance rules
• Ensure the safety of all visitors

Seattle Chocolates has been creating all-natural products since 1991, owned and led by CEO Jean Thompson, they have a true passion for chocolate. The company has taken great strides in their commitment when creating premium chocolates to using honest ingredients with a local flavor. The team at Seattle Chocolates gives back both locally and to programs across the US and with the spirit of building relationships within the community, Seattle Chocolate proudly offers tours of their facility. These tours allow customers to see first-hand how their delish chocolate is made. When the team at Seattle Chocolates decided to renovate their facility to revamp tours for visitors, they turned to DACO, based in Kent, WA, to assist in finding the perfect solution.

Challenge: Compliancy with Codes While Keeping Aesthetic Appeal In order to maintain SQF compliance, special design features were required, as this is an active facility where all of the company’s chocolates are being produced daily.

Solution: Design and Functionality Integrated Daco and Cubic Designs were both able to meet all SQF requirements by combining modular walls with a mezzanine system, which allowed the production area and areas where tour guests walk to be separated.

Results: Elevated Observation Walkway Exceeded Expectations! The mezzanine became an observation walkway for guests to get a spectacular view of the process, while on their tour. Along the mezzanine’s length are multiple “portals” for viewing, which allow for videos and presentations to be shown explaining the functions of each part of the plant. When beginning the observation portion of the tour, the customers will exit the receiving area, and the tour group is then led out to the plant and directly up the stairway onto the platform. The tour finale is at the end of the mezzanine’s walkway, which is in the production area. According to Jean Thompson, the mezzanine project “more than exceeded our expectations, and our standards are really high!”