Policy 29: Food Safety and Quality Policy

Introduction

At Simplyfruit, Food Safety and Quality is the cornerstone of our business.

We are committed to consistently delivering products that meet and exceed the expectations of our consumers in terms of safety, legality and authenticity, whilst ensuring all customer obligations and standards are achieved and maintained.

We believe that our success depends on achieving the highest possible standards of food safety, hygiene and quality culture.

We are fully committed to maintain consumer confidence for all products, by the development and implementation of our food safety and quality systems, standards and practices.

We are focused on the continuous improvement of the site’s food safety and quality culture.

Scope

Simplyfruit expect every employee to support this policy and ensure that our standards are achieved at each process and / or practice. This covers every stage of our operations, from raw material sourcing to the delivery of finished products to customers

Quality Management Objectives

1. Customer Satisfaction

• Consistently meet or exceed customer expectations through the delivery of high-quality products
• Ensure that customer complaints are addressed promptly, with corrective actions taken to prevent recurrence
• Seek to become the preferred supplier to our customers through sustained improvement of quality in all aspects of our business, such that quality becomes a competitive advantage.

1. Product Safety and Compliance

• Compliance with all relevant food safety legislation, regulations and standards.
• Implement and maintain a robust Food Safety Management System, including HACCP principles
• Regularly review and update our quality and safety protocols to reflect the latest scientific knowledge, standards and regulatory requirements

1. Supplier and Raw Material Management

• Defined standards and procedures for raw material sourcing, manufacturing and distribution.
• Work closely with suppliers to ensure that all raw materials meet our stringent quality standards
• Conduct regular audits and assessments of suppliers to ensure compliance with our quality requirements
• Develop long-term partnerships with suppliers who share our commitment to quality, safety, legality and authenticity
• Continually review food safety policies, standards and procedures to Adherence to internal traceability system to ensure authentic ingredients are used from an approved supplier.

1. Process Control and Improvement

• Establish and maintain Work Instructions and procedures for all aspects of production to ensure consistency and quality
• Implement rigorous quality control measures at every stage of the production process – from raw material sourcing to product dispatch
• Continuously monitor and improve production processes to enhance efficiency, reduce waste and maintain high quality standards

1. Training and Development

• Train, develop, support and recognise our employees so that they can take responsibility for the improvement of quality, encouraging a “right first time” culture.
• Provide comprehensive training to all employees on quality, hygiene and health and safety principles.
• Regularly update training programs to reflect changes in standards, regulations or technology

1. Continuous Improvement

• Measure progress against our KPI objectives and report performance when necessary.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging employees to identify and implement quality enhancing initiatives
• Use data driven analysis to identify trends, root causes of issues and opportunities for improvement

1. Documentation and Record Keeping

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all quality management activities, including inspections, audits and corrective actions
• Ensure that documentation is readily accessible and compliant with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements
• Utilise documentation to track progress, identify areas for improvement and demonstrate compliance with quality standards

1. Audit and Review

• Monitor and regularly review compliance and effectiveness of standards set through our Quality Management System, driving and embedding quality, food safety and customer service / quality culture throughout the company.
• Review audit findings and implement corrective and preventative actions to address any identified issues

Responsibilities

• Management – Provide leadership and resources to implement and maintain the Quality Management System, and ensure that quality objectives are achieved
• Quality Assurance Team – Oversee the implementation of quality standards, conduct audits, and ensure compliance with regulations, standards and company policies
• Employees – Adhere to quality standards and procedures, participate in training programs and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.
• Suppliers – Comply with Simplyfruit’s quality requirements and collaborate on initiatives to enhance product quality, safety, legality and authenticity

Review and Monitoring

This policy will be reviewed annually or whenever significant changes occur. Simplyfruit will monitor quality performance through regular audits, customer feedback, and employee input to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with our quality objectives