BRCGS / SALSA

Open doors to new markets by gaining third party certification

Do you have a potential customer waiting for you to obtain third party certification before they will buy from you?
Do you want to be a strong contender in the marketplace?
Do you want to have more confidence in your food safety systems?
Do you want to reduce the number of customer audits you get?
If you have answered yes to any of these then third party certification is for you.

The Standards:

SALSA (Safe and Local Supplier Approval)

SALSA is recognised as the leading food safety certification scheme for the UK’s small food and drink producers. It is widely accepted by retailers such as Asda and Ocado, and food service providers such as 3663 and Centre Parcs. Once implemented, the SALSA standard requirements provide an excellent foundation for developing and managing your food safety systems as your business grows. It is an ideal stepping stone to further certification such as BRCGS.

BRCGS Standards, including
- Food Safety
- Packaging
- Storage & Distribution
- Agents and Brokers
- Retail

BRCGS are a set of internationally recognised safety and quality standards. The requirements ensure that food / drink companies fulfil their food safety and legal responsibilities providing protection for the consumer. They are often a fundamental requirement for supply into the major retailers.

All food safety standards include core safety and legality requirements, with additional needs bolted on.

Clear Compliance Support:

Guidance on which standard is best for you.
The development of a documented food safety management system that meets the requirements of the chosen standard and meets the needs of your business.
Support with implementation of the new systems, preparation for audit and attendance at the audit if desired.
Ongoing maintenance of the system including system updates, internal audits, HACCP review and annual SALSA review.
A Gap Analysis comparing your current system with the requirements of the desired standard.
A review of an established food safety system to make it more streamlined and user friendly.
Provision of a dedicated phone line for confidential reporting / whistleblowing.
Training in Food Safety, HACCP, Allergens and Labelling see training.

Clear Compliance Approach:

As an approved member of the IFST Register of Professional Food Auditors and Mentors, an IFST Registered Food Safety Manager and a SALSA Auditor and Mentor, Catherine has worked with many companies to help them achieve and maintain certification.

Catherine has generic electronic documented systems that meet many of the standard requirements. During the project Catherine will work closely with you to understand your business, products and process and ensure these documents are modified so they are suitable and practical to use. Catherine will also ensure that you understand the system and can confidently work with it.

Testimonials

Pat Byrne, General Manager - Henderson’s Relish

Catherine Riley has been an immense mentor and supporter

Catherine Riley has been an immense mentor and supporter, ensuring Henderson’s Relish has been able to introduce and maintain a compliance regime that has gained SALSA certification and maintained it. This has ensured that our iconic heritage brand has maintained long standing, and secured new, distribution channels. Catherine’s knowledge and mentoring style has instilled procedures and practices throughout the workforce that are simple but exacting in trace-ability, manufacturing, storage and distribution. We thank Catherine for her continued involvement and are very pleased to have her on board as a member of our team.

Paul Douglas, Sales Manager - Healan Ingredients Ltd

Her experience, knowledge, guidance and communication were first class

Healan Ingredients Limited are a leading supplier of gelatines and hydrocolloids to the food and confectionary industry. We worked very closely with Catherine during the lead-up to our initial BRC Audit. Catherine proved to be an invaluable asset to our team during this time. Her experience, knowledge, guidance and communication were first class. Our successfully achievement of BRC AA grade is testament to Catherine’s expertise and inspirational support. The BRC accreditation ensures our customers have full confidence in our food safety program and supply chain management.

Sharon Coventry, General Manager - Holme Farmed Venison Ltd

She is easy to get on with, and very thorough in her work

Catherine has worked with HFV for the past 10 years, and has provided invaluable input into our BRC food safety management system. She is easy to get on with, and very thorough in her work. Visit reports are sent through promptly. She is always on hand to answer any questions or queries we may have, and feels like part of the team here at HFV.

Sally Hinchliffe, MD - Bondgate Bakery Ltd

We can’t recommend her highly enough

We really found Catherine’s help invaluable. There are so many aspects to cover in order to gain SALSA accreditation, but Catherine’s clear and precise help and advice made each section easy for us all to understand, implement and maintain. She also made sure that our SALSA files are absolutely relevant to our own business practices, which is very important – no generic tables or forms – but clear and precise instructions tailored to fit our business in a practical manner. I know that, without Catherine, we would not have gained our SALSA accreditation. She feels very much part of our Bondgate bakery team and we can’t recommend her highly enough.

Mark Leather, MD - Country Products Ltd

Work carried out exceeded our expectations

Catherine’s support was detailed, well planned & to a scheduled agreed timetable. I can say without reservation that the work carried out exceeded our expectations, and the benefits achieved, not only through achieving our SALSA accreditation, but also the improved work practices, have had a beneficial impact on our company, and continue to do so.

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