Food and Drink Forum turns the spotlight on BRC accreditation

East Midlands food manufacturers are being urged to attend a free event focusing on accreditation in the wake of news that one of the major supermarkets will be carrying out unannounced audits on the producers of their brand food products.

Trade organisation The Food and Drink Forum annually stages an event which turns the spotlight on the BRC (British Retail Consortium) standards.

These accreditations are a benchmark in quality standards and are required by many retailers before they will stock a manufacturer’s products.

Last year The Forum staged a BRC Unravelled event to give East Midlands food and drink manufacturers more information about the standard and the developments which occurred with the introduction of issue 6.

This year it is running a free follow-up event on September 26th from 7.45am to 10am in conjunction with Giltbrook Workwear at Giltbrook Workwear’s premises in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. It will focus on activity surrounding the certification since the introduction of changes (issue six) last year.

“This event is especially pertinent, since ASDA announced in June that from October 1st 2013, all manufacturers of ASDA brand food products must have their BRC audits undertaken as ‘unannounced option 1’ which means that manufacturers need to be ready at any time for an audit,” said Food and Drink Forum senior technical manager Richard Wigley.

“I would strongly advise East Midlands food manufacturers to attend our free event on September 26th to find out more about BRC and other food standards such as SALSA.”

The event will provide an insight into BRC and other food standards, information on cost-saving skills and tools, expert advice from The Food and Drink Forum senior technical manager, the chance to understand how organisations like Giltbrook Workwear, Surepak Ltd and The Sherwood Press Group can help with equipment and services to maintain BRC standards.

If you have BRC or are looking to achieve it, having a supply chain of BRC certified companies provides traceability and easier management of your BRC certification.

This event also provides the opportunity to tour Giltbrook’s premises, a high quality work wear facility.

It is aimed at food and drink manufacturers in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland who are considering implementing BRC, SALSA or another food standard, who have BRC and would like to discuss any issues, or who would like more information about accreditation.

Places are free for food and drink producers and manufacturers and can be booked by emailing enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

The Food and Drink Forum was launched in 1998, and operates across the East Midlands as a business support organisation for the food and drink sector. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham.

For more information visit www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk