Cost Reduction Consultancy Plays Key Role in a New England Renewable Energy Project

CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In a unique accomplishment, an international cost reduction consultancy cut a food manufacturer's waste management expenses in half and supported a relatively new and unusual source of renewable energy: biogas.

The consultancy, Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA), encouraged its client, Kayem Foods, to participate in a farm-based biogas plant project that converts manure and food scraps into electricity. The ambitious project does far more than generate renewable energy. It also creates heat for greenhouses, produces liquid fertilizer, provides material used in bedding for cows, and supports small-scale dairy farming.

The biogas plant is located in Massachusetts. It uses food scraps from Kayem and three other local food manufacturers that would otherwise end up in landfills. The companies also buy renewable power credits from the facility.

While working on the cost-reduction project, ERA Consultants were instrumental in identifying and encouraging a potential alternative energy provider to consider this groundbreaking initiative and signing Kayem on as the first client. These efforts led to the development of the biogas plant and enabled Kayem to save significant expenses, earn energy credits, recycle waste and promote its green initiatives.

ERA also negotiated multi-year waste-removal contracts for Kayem with controls over the ancillary charges and increases.  

"ERA came up with a terrific way for us to save money and went all out to make it happen," said Ralph O. Smith, President and CEO of Kayem. "Their dedication is impressive and they delivered value that goes beyond just cost-savings."

Kayem Foods is the largest meat processor in New England. The company may be best known to Boston area sports fans as maker of the Official Hot Dog of the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park (the iconic Fenway Frank) and the Official Frank and Sausage of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium.

ERA has 700 Consultants in 30 countries, including 250 cost-reduction experts in the U.S. ERA Consultants have industry knowledge and market intelligence from more than 14,000 successful projects in expense categories common to a wide variety of industries. ERA is paid based on savings found. If there is no savings, there is no fee.

SOURCE Expense Reduction Analysts