Silliker, Inc., an international network of accredited food testing and consulting laboratories, opens a new lab in Florida to serve area processors, manufacturers, retailers, distributors and foodservice establishments.


Silliker, Inc., Chicago, opens a new laboratory in Lakeland, Fla., located at 2525 Drane Field Road in the West Lakeland Business Park.

“With Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland forms an impressive triad of cities along Interstate 4 in Central Florida,” explains Johannes Burlin, president of Silliker North America. “Lakeland resides in one of the state’s most robust business regions, providing us with an ideal geographical base to serve area processors, manufacturers, retailers, distributors and foodservice establishments.”  

The organization’s industrial performance, operations and quality departments designed the laboratory build-out. Keeping with Silliker operation protocols, the facility employs innovative workstation designs and multi-use workflow processes to minimize common workplace errors and assure the production of consistent quality results.

The facility also complies with Florida’s standards and ISO operational requirements for food testing laboratories. Fully equipped to handle large sample volumes in accordance with industry and rigorous Silliker internal guidelines, the facility has begun ISO 17025 accreditation activities through the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) under manager John Bernstein.

“The food industry faces a myriad of safety and quality challenges, many of which are distilled in the Food and Drug Administration’s new Food Safety and Modernization Act,” Burlin states. “Silliker has long been a trusted partner of food companies and our commitment to expanding our solution services to additional regions throughout North America has never been stronger.”