GFSI Consulting

Brand Protection—First and Foremost

Food safety is serious business. As the global supply chain expands, so does the risk of foodborne illness. There is more public scrutiny on food protection than ever before. And with social media, one slipup can erode a brand in no time at all.

Our primary focus is to protect your brand. We’ll ensure your food safety and quality systems will meet and exceed all regulatory requirements, are easy to maintain and most importantly are effective. GFSI Certification is rapidly becoming a condition of doing business in the food and beverage industry. In fact, certified companies are more disciplined, more risk-focused, more efficient and more profitable. And brand protection is paramount.

GFSI Overview

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is an independent global consumer goods network, with over 400 members across 150 countries. It was introduced to the food industry in May 2000 as a non-profit foundation. During the development process, CEO’s of global companies came together at The Consumer Goods Forum to create a set of harmonized best practice food safety requirements.

Today GFSI is overseen by a board of directors from large retailers, manufacturers and suppliers and food service companies. There are several popular harmonized standards under the GFSI umbrella. Among these are: SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, International Food Standard, GlobalG.A.P, etc. Over the years, GFSI Certification has gained popularity among most of the big box retailers.

Major food manufacturers and retailers demand their suppliers adhere to GFSI Audit schemes to ensure safe and quality food. In many ways, GFSI benchmarked schemes require higher safety standards than what government regulatory bodies enforce. Additionally, GFSI is focused on reducing duplication of audits across the supply chain, meeting customer demands and managing food safety risks.

Food Safety Management System Development & Implementation

From documentation development to implementation, CFS expertly delivers all of the services a client requires. In the development phase, CFS creates effective policies and procedures that are crafted around your existing documentation. Certification Bodies, during their desk-top audits, will often state that our client’s documented programs are a model for success. Our documentation services are based on your operational reality.

During the implementation phase, CFS helps clients implement the documented programs. We coach each process owner and back-up on how to use their practical programs in everyday operations, so it becomes a part of the business culture. We then audit to ensure that the food safety management system is compliant and up to date. This includes food security/defense and food fraud mitigation strategies.

We also help our clients secure new business and increase existing business. In part, this is accomplished by image improvement, engaging employees, process streamlining, and significantly reducing the cost of doing business—the virtual elimination of waste, rework, and scrap. Moreover, we work with each client to identify creative ways to leverage their certificate—to accelerate short- and long-term growth of sales.