Today’s consumers are more educated about the food they’re providing their families and require more information about the quality of their food. Heightened consumer demand for increased food safety assurances starts with retailers providing verifiable proof that robust food safety control systems have been effectively implemented. Even the cleanliness of a retailer's store can influence a consumer’s decision on where to shop, relating it to the quality and safety of the foods sold there.
<p>By Sarah Malenich, Director, Sales & Marketing, Safe Quality Food Institute<br /> <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/retail-store-1.tmb-large-350-.png?sfvrsn=274d4e6e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Retail store 1" title="Retail store 1" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> </p> <p>Today’s consumers are more educated about the food they’re providing their families and require more information about the quality of their food. Heightened consumer demand for increased food safety assurances starts with retailers providing verifiable proof that robust food safety control systems have been effectively implemented. Even the cleanliness of a retailer's store can influence a consumer’s decision on where to shop, relating it to the quality and safety of the foods sold there. </p> <p>In 2017, the <a href="https://www.sqfi.com/">Safe Quality Food Institute</a> (SQFI) announced its newest certification program, the <a href="https://www.sqfi.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/SQF-Code_Ed8Retail1212017.pdf">SQF Food Safety Code for Food Retail</a>. The certificate is designed for retail and wholesale grocers wanting another layer of brand protection to help ensure they are properly protecting consumers. The program covers the system elements, as well as Good Retail Practices for retail, wholesale and grocery. It also outlines a review at the corporate and store level with an option to participate in a multi-site program.</p> <p>By completing this certification program, this helps retailers to:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Build transparency across all programs for customers</li> <li>Establish internal confidence within their organization</li> <li>Protect their brand</li> <li>Encourage continuous improvement </li> <li>Validate processes and systems</li> <li>Connect the corporate policies to store practices</li> <li>Allow retailers to have a true third-party audit system</li> <li>Benchmark against other retailer’s performance</li> <li>Create a uniform food safety approach, system and vocabulary across retailers within the food industry</li> <li>They will go through the certification process they ask their supplier to go through</li> </ul> <p>After getting feedback from retail food safety and quality directors, SQFI has decided to offer a <a href="https://www.sqfi.com/forms/meeting/MeetingFormPublic/view?id=26905400000079">free training for FMI Members</a> to learn about the program and how to implement and maintain it. The class will be held Tuesday, January 22, 2019 (10am - 4pm US/Eastern) at the <a href="https://www.reservations.com/hotel/sofitel-miami?gclid=CjwKCAiA8rnfBRB3EiwAhrhBGhbS3GoZ6YXzRc6TcGQ9s32cx6qppvXGJg3-1DLnVlV8dTbIwJREWhoCi6oQAvD_BwE">Pullman Miami Airport Hotel</a> in Miami, FL.</p> <p>This interactive session is a perfect opportunity to learn more about the SQF Food Safety Code for Retail and the expectations for the corporate and store audits.<strong> </strong>SQFI staff will be on hand to dive deep into the Retail Code requirements and answer your questions.<strong></strong><br /> <br /> <strong>Discussion Topics Include: </strong><br /> 1. How to get started <br /> 2. What is expected in the corporate audit <br /> 3. What is expected in the store audit <br /> 4. Review of the Retail Code elements <br /> 5. Setting up a multi-site <br /> 6. Resources available <br /> 7. GFSI benchmarking for the retail industry <br /> <br /> <strong>Registration Includes:</strong><br /> Lunch and course materials </p> <p><a href="https://www.sqfi.com/forms/meeting/MeetingFormPublic/view?id=26905400000079" class="button-secondary">Register Now</a><strong><a href="https://www.sqfi.com/forms/meeting/MeetingFormPublic/view?id=26905400000079"></a><br /> <br /> </strong>Questions about the course can be sent to <a href="mailto:
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