Responsible Manufacturer Benchmark - Old City Syrup

By CommonShare

Old City Syrup Company, located in the historic Old City of Strafford, Vermont, is a renowned craft maple syrup producer dedicated to preserving the tradition of small-batch, organic maple syrup production. Specializing in top-quality maple syrups made on a classic wood-fired arch, Old City Syrup stands out for its commitment to forest stewardship, sustainability, and conservation on their lands. The company’s offerings include premium Grade A Amber Rich syrup, bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup, and gift boxes that make for timeless and appreciated gifts. Certified organic and produced by a family-run business led by Pat Kelly, Old City Syrup prides itself on its distinctive glass bottles and dedication to maximizing forest conservation and bird habitat.

With the heart of their operation being the sugarhouse where maple sap is boiled down in a traditional wood-fired arch, Old City Syrup embodies the essence of Vermont’s “sugaring” season. The company’s dedication to using sustainably harvested wood for boiling and engaging the community during this time makes them a beloved fixture in the region. Their products can be found in specialty food stores, gourmet markets, and craft food businesses across the Northeast, where each batch is carefully graded for quality before being hand-filled, numbered, and packaged for sale.

Old City Syrup Company’s rich history dates back to the original settlement of Strafford in 1769, with their maple woods located near the top of Sawyer Mountain. Embracing the mission of keeping the Vermont tradition of maple syrup alive, the company’s values of quality, sustainability, and community engagement shine through in their products and practices. With a strong presence in the Northeast market and a loyal customer base, Old City Syrup continues to innovate and expand its offerings while staying true to its roots. As they look towards the future, the company remains committed to upholding their legacy of crafting exceptional maple syrup and fostering a deep connection to the land and community.

Overall Rating

1.0

Under-Performing

Traceability

An increasingly important factor in global supply chains, traceability assesses the manufacturer's capability to track products and materials from origin to delivery. The Sustainable Manufacturers Benchmark® explores this through the lens of tiered supplier verification, culminating in end-to-end traceability with real-time monitoring and complete transparency.

Digitized Products

The digital landscape has transformed B2B interactions. This facet assesses the extent to which manufacturers have digitized their product offerings. The spectrum ranges from manufacturers without any online product catalog to those boasting advanced B2B e-commerce platforms, providing clients with order customization, real-time tracking, and an integrated view of the supply chain.

Preferred Materials

This aspect gauges the extent to which manufacturers incorporate sustainable, circular, and regenerative materials in their supply chain. It assesses whether companies merely use standard materials or whether they actively prioritize sustainable and preferred materials in their product range, even going so far as to offer digital verification of material certificates.

Facility Verification and Services

This dimension evaluates the openness and commitment of manufacturers regarding their facility's conditions and services. It covers a spectrum, from providing no facility details at all to showcasing comprehensive third-party audits, ensuring transparency in worker welfare and showcasing a clear commitment to maintaining top-tier facility services.

Readiness to Contract

Before entering a partnership, it's pivotal to understand a manufacturer's business legitimacy. The Sustainable Manufacturers Benchmark® checks for the presence and verification of essential documents, ranging from basic business licenses to comprehensive documentation, client testimonials, and even third-party attestations that verify a manufacturer's reliability and readiness to contract.

Old City Syrup

United States

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How our Responsible Manufacturer Benchmark® Works?

By CommonShare

The Responsible Manufacturer Benchmark is a comprehensive framework designed to evaluate and rate manufacturers based on their commitment to sustainability, digital integration, readiness for contracting, material sourcing, and facility standards. It provides a clear, standardized metric for assessing manufacturers in a B2B environment, helping businesses make informed decisions aligned with their sustainability objectives. The benchmark covers crucial areas like end-to-end traceability, the digital verification of supply tiers, utilization of preferred materials, and verified social audits for facilities. By incorporating both depth and granularity across its criteria, the benchmark not only promotes transparency but also encourages continuous improvement in responsible manufacturing practices.