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When your business involves supplying food to retail, restaurants, or consumers, safety is one of the factors you have to take seriously. One way of attracting customers is to prove that your food is safe for consumption. Doing this will put you ahead of your competitors. There is no better way of proving the safety of your food than getting the Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification.
Based in the United States, the Safe Quality Food certification benefits all supply chain members – from farmers to harvesters and from processors (manufacturers) to the consumers. Some benefits of SQF certification include:
1.     Proof of Compliance
Proof of compliance is perhaps the more important benefit of the Safe Quality Food certification. With this certification, you’ll prove to your suppliers and customers that you comply with food regulatory requirements. For a food processor, it will assure your customers of your due diligence and commitment toward food safety regulations and other requirements. This will boost consumer confidence which, in turn, will enhance customer loyalty.
You’d also want your supplier to be SQF certified if you are the buyer. This is the only way to be 100% sure your supplier’s brand is protected. When your suppliers maintain SQF certification and membership, you’ll know their commitment to food safety is as strong as yours. Additionally, a Safe Quality Food certification is the easiest way to prove to food safety inspectors that your facility complies with food regulations.
2.     Boosts Your Marketing Efforts
SQF certification is recognized globally, meaning having this certification will boost your marketing effort both nationally and globally. Whether you are a supplier or processor in the food industry, advertising your Safe Quality Food certification through your affiliates will prove to your target audience that you offer high-quality and safe products.
You can also advertise your Safe Quality Food certification through your website, social media platforms, newsletters, emails, business cards, etc. Facebook alone has about three billion active monthly users. This is a huge market that you can’t ignore. The global recognition of the Safe Quality Food certification means you should also insist on SQF-certified overseas suppliers.
Today, many consumers, especially of food items, are getting more concerned about healthy eating. For this reason, they are looking for vendors who can demonstrate their obligation to food safety through Safe Quality Food certification.
You can have a head start by marketing your SQF involvement by labeling your packages in a way that prominently displays your Safe Quality Food certification. This will increase consumer confidence and turn your customers into your brand ambassadors.
3.     Financial Gains
The cost of getting the Safe Quality Food certification is small, while its benefits are enormous. The SQF certification is divided into three levels. To move from one level o the next, you have to invest in your employees in terms of training and customer service.
You must understand that the food safety culture doesn’t come naturally. It’s something you have to work for. You can train your employees and encourage them to work as a team, and also adopt an open communication system in your business.
All these will cost money but will have financial benefits. For example, proper employee training will make the operations more efficient and mitigate risks. This will work toward improving your bottom line.
Conclusion
Now that you know the Safe Quality Food certification benefits, you need to take the first step toward getting certified. This certification is endorsed by the GFSI (The Global Food Safety Initiative) and is recognized globally.
The initiative brings together the finest and brightest food experts from the international food supply chain. Some leading food retailers and processors that actively support this certification include Safeway, Target, Kraft, Kellogg, Hershey, and Walmart. You can join this list by taking the first step today.
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