Channel Fish Processing achieved the coveted BRCGS AA+ rating for the first time in the company’s history! As a company that always strives for excellence and works to set a positive example in the fishing industry, we’re honored to have earned this rating. Now that we’ve achieved it, we will continue to work hard to maintain this exemplary standard.
What is the BRCGS?
The BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards) is one of the most important organizations in the food processing industry. Founded in 1996 by retailers who wanted to harmonize food safety standards across the supply chain, the BRCGS Global Food Safety Standard has set the industry benchmark for nearly 25 years. Globally recognized across both food and non-food categories, the BRC operates the most rigorous third-party certification of its kind.
The BRC has set global standards for food safety, packaging materials, storage and distribution, consumer products, agents and brokers, retail, gluten-free, plant-based, and ethical trading. It provides a framework to manage product safety, integrity, legality, and quality. It also sets the framework for the operational controls for these criteria in the food and food ingredient manufacturing, processing, and packaging industry.
Companies across the globe take the BRCGS extremely seriously. Their standards have been adopted by over 22,000 sites across more than 130 countries. They’ve also been accepted by 70% of the top 10 global retailers, 60% of the top 10 quick-service restaurants, and 50% of the top 25 manufacturers.
Why Getting a BRC AA+ Matters
Obtaining a good certification grade from the BRCGS is critical. It’s proof that a company is meeting the necessary legal requirements and upholding the highest safety standards in the food industry. Receiving a BRC AA+ rating is a major accomplishment as it’s the highest rating a company can achieve.
However, it’s far from an easy task. That’s because the BRC Global Standards are rigorous and detailed. Every possible area where food safety could potentially be compromised is closely scrutinized. They’re also constantly changing, so to achieve this rating, a company must be on top of the latest industry standards.
It’s also important to note that the only way to achieve the coveted + at the end of the grade is for a company to agree to an unannounced BRC audit. These companies are challenged at a higher level. An auditor can arrive at a facility at any time after a certain date. This means that a company undergoing grading must be ready for inspection at all times. This means that a facility has to operate at the highest level of quality and food safety standards every day.
A Major Achievement for Channel Fish
By getting the AA+ rating, Channel Fish has joined an exclusive, elite group in the food processing industry. With this achievement under our belt, our customers can feel more confident than ever that their food is being produced by a seafood processor committed to the highest quality and food safety standards.
