Interview in “Polish Butcher” Magazine

Together we create taste: Comprehensive support and a partnership approach by MAS-POL

Today, meat production is a challenge requiring not only high-quality raw materials and packaging, but above all, effective process management and rapid response to market needs. We spoke with representatives of MAS-POL about what it’s like to work in partnership with a supplier who doesn’t limit themselves to selling products.

Katarzyna Salomon, Polish Butcher Magazine: Many companies today declare “comprehensive service.” What does this mean to you in practice?

Krzysztof Łodej, Sales Director: For us, it’s all about an individual approach to each client. We start by talking about their production processes—not just what they’d like to order, but also their technological needs, what their production line looks like, their constraints, and their goals. Only then do we choose the right offer. We don’t sell off the shelf without consideration—we always look for a solution that will actually work in a given facility.

Tomasz Wilk, Chief Technologist: The entire service process is based on analysis. We frequently visit the plant, inspect processes, and test recipes. We propose not only additives and casings, but also complete solutions for a given product – from brines and spice blends to packaging and print designs. Our mission is to help the customer achieve a consistent, high-quality end product that is repeatable and meets their expectations.

KS: What exactly makes you stand out?

KŁ: Because we work as a team. The client communicates with a dedicated sales representative and technologist, which facilitates communication. However, every offer is the coordinated work of several departments. Our sales department identifies needs, the technology department proposes solutions and supports implementation, the graphic studio designs labels and prints, and the printing house prepares the finished prints. Everything happens under one roof, significantly reducing time and simplifying communication. The client doesn’t have to coordinate multiple suppliers – they receive a comprehensive solution tailored to their production.

TW: Exactly. It’s coordination that helps avoid errors and misunderstandings. For example, when we develop a new recipe or a printed casing, the technologist and graphic designer work together. This ensures the final result is consistent and meets the client’s expectations. The client gains time and peace of mind because we take responsibility for ensuring everything fits together. Our FSSC22000 certification supports the entire collaboration and delivery process, obliging us to adhere to global quality standards for services and goods.

KS: What is key in building such a relationship with a customer?

KŁ: Trust and communication. Customers need to know they can call us with any issue—from raw materials to packaging. We don’t limit ourselves to sales—we’re a partner who helps solve problems. That’s why we prioritize quick contact and accessibility—we have salespeople and technologists in every region of Poland.

TW: Experience and industry knowledge are also crucial. Our technologists understand the processes, machinery, and regulations. This allows us to provide practical advice on selecting the right brine, optimizing the recipe for cost, and selecting packaging that meets market requirements. This practical advice truly translates into production results.

KS: What does your technological support looks like in every day practice?

TW: These aren’t just general guidelines. As our clients will confirm, we’ve been participating in production trials at their plants for years. We bring ready-made recipes and mixtures, test them on-site, and adjust them until the result is satisfactory. This helps our clients avoid raw material losses, process errors, and complaints. We simply help them achieve a stable, repeatable process. When I mention this, my mind immediately goes to our MAS-rtu technology – ready-to-use, sterile casings. We were the first in Poland to offer casings using this technology. Their preparation requires us to adhere to strict production standards.

KS: And how does working on packaging and prints look like?

KŁ: In this case, the client isn’t just buying a casing—they’re buying a well-thought-out product or brand concept. We have our own flexographic printing house and graphic design studio, which can prepare the print design for the casing or label. Our departments work collaboratively to ensure everything is visually consistent and meets technological requirements. The client doesn’t need to coordinate—they receive a finished product, saving time, and reducing the risk of errors. In this case, it all starts with a conversation, often attended by a representative from our graphics department. This helps define the project’s direction and the client’s vision early on.

KS: What kind of real results do your clients achieve thanks to such cooperation?

TW: First and foremost, process standardization—crucial for large production volumes. Carefully selected brines and blends allow for consistent product quality and minimize the risk of complaints. We also reduce raw material losses, for example, by limiting leakage during thermal processing.

KŁ: Customers also appreciate the time savings. They have a single partner who supplies everything—additives, casings, packaging, labels—and coordinates everything. This is also complemented by technological support during the implementation phase. The results are: lower production costs, less downtime, and greater predictability through the entire process.

KS: We know that you’re active participants in various industry events. MAS-POL won an award at the recent MEATing 2025 congress – tell us about it.

KŁ: Of course. Together with our client – Matthias Meat Company – we took second place in the “Cooperator” category. Together, we developed a convenience meat product – Pork Tenderloin in Chanterelle Sauce. This is a very important distinction for us – not only a reward for our work, but above all, a confirmation of the strategy we have been implementing for years. This strategy is based on long-term collaboration with clients, understanding their processes, and jointly seeking the best solutions. This award is proof that the market appreciates this.

TW: We also owe this distinction to our clients – without their openness to collaboration and joint product development, this wouldn’t be possible. It’s truly the result of partnership and trust that we’ve built over the years. Together we work, grow, and win.

KS: What would you say to meat plants looking for such a partner?

KŁ: We’re not looking for a quick sale—we’re looking for long-term collaboration. We understand the industry—we’ve been operating in it for 30 years—and we want to be a reliable partner to our clients. We encourage you to meet and see what we can work on together.

TW: Every plant is different. Our job is to understand it and help it create a better product—more efficiently and safely. We want to collaborate with companies that, like us, are open to dialogue and development. These are the best plants to work with—then we can create something truly valuable together.

KS: Thank you for the interview.