The BRCGS is a global standard for storage and distribution, the certification means we have to have demonstratable compliance in the safe working and control of goods handling.
Who are BRCGS?
BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards), formerly known as BRC (British Retail Consortium), is a leading brand and consumer protection organisation. The organisation is recognised in over 130 countries world-wide and used by over 29,000 certified suppliers through a global network of accredited certification bodies. BRCGS’ standards guarantee the standardisation of quality, safety and operational criteria and ensure that manufacturers fulfil their legal obligations and provide protection for the end consumer. Certification is now often a fundamental requirement of leading retailers, manufacturers and food service organisations.
How did Subzero prepare?
Our in-house Compliance Manager, Ashleigh Abbey-Mohammed, was tasked with overseeing the audit and making sure the company had demonstratable compliance. The BRCGS update the standard every 3-4 years, with the most recent standard (issue 4) being published in 2020. Ashleigh had to ensure our policies and procedures aligned to the standards best practices, and that this could be seamlessly demonstrated to the auditor.
Did SUBZERO improve as a result?
Internally it meant that documentation was not only re-evaluated but re-highlighted to staff and made more accessible, further enhancing our internal communications and assisting in guidance for training and support.
For our customers, it meant that we had to provide complete traceability of their goods from in-take to delivery and temperature controls at all stages, although this was always part of our standard procedure, it did make us re-evaluate our documentation and accessibility.
What happened on the day?
Speaking of the day, Ashleigh said that “Our auditor had a background in warehouse operations, giving him a solid understanding of what a good site would look like. He was very easy to talk to and seemed genuinely interested in our operations, taking the stress completely out of what could have been a nerve wracking day. After an initial walk through of the warehouse and in-depth discussion, the auditor sat down to check through all our internal policies.”.
Was the certification successful?
The certification was a huge success, being awarded a grade A with some easy minors to correct prior to certification, Subzero are extremely pleased to now be BRCGS certified.
To find out more about the standard for storage and distribution please visit the BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards) website.
For further details on our certification or to speak to a member of the SUBZERO team please call us on +44 (0) 1622 834950.
