JAMAICA – Shavuot International Holdings Company Limited has received the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Code for Manufacturing Certification, a comprehensive HACCP-based food safety and quality management certification system , signifying a high level of practiced food security for the international market.
The certification process was conducted by TSL Certification Services International Ltd (TSL CSI), the sole regional entity granted a license by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) to carry out SQF certification.
Established in 2014, Shavuot International processes high-quality spices, herbal teas and gluten-free flour from locally grown ingredients bought from farmers in each of the 14 parishes. The company said Ninety per cent of its products are exported to 15 countries across the globe, with demand having grown by 200 per cent over the past year.
“Attaining the SQF certification is a form of validation of our ability to consistently produce safe and high-quality products throughout the food chain, thereby increasing customer trust, confidence, loyalty and brand protection Also, having the SQF certification is just one way we can assure the world there is nothing that is a higher priority to us than the safety of the food we produce and sell,” said Joel Harris, Marketing Director of Shavuot International Holdings Company Limited.
What’s more, this SQF certification will open up additional markets in the US, Europe and Canada for Shavuot. The company recently began supplying a major retail chain in Canada.
“By working with SQF-certified suppliers, food distributors across the globe can be assured that the products they buy have passed rigorous global standards for food safety and quality. SQF certification makes it easier for distributors to find suppliers that are committed to food safety – from the farms to the retail stores,” Harris continued.
In commenting on the certification process, Sherone McNeil, Quality Assurance Manager at Shavuot said it was not a walk in the park. She informed that in order to be competitive in the marketplace, especially in the retail and the value-added product sectors, the company worked towards being Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) compliant.
“Therefore, we chose SQF, which is based on a set of standards for food safety set by the GFSI. The undertaking involved everything that had to do with the control of the facility and the processes,” she said.
The CEO expressed gratitude to the dedicated team of directors, managers and workers who all contribute to the ongoing success of Shavuot, and to the team at TSL – Certification Services International.
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