What is BRCGS, and why is it important?

As far as internationally recognised manufacturing safety standards are concerned, Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standard (BRCGS) is at the top. The BRCGS issues certifications across numerous manufacturing processes, including food safety, packaging materials, storage and distribution, consumer products, agents and brokers, retail, gluten-free, plant-based and ethical trading.

Attaining BRCGS certifications offers coffee businesses immense benefits. Most importantly, it signals to consumers that the products they are purchasing have been manufactured under the strictest and safest possible conditions. Modern shoppers are increasingly discerning, quality-conscious, and demanding when it comes to food quality.

On the business-to-business side, the upsides are also numerous. Safer production means less product contamination and other issues, mitigating the risk of expensive product recalls or worse. The Standard also opens up new business opportunities: leading retailers often insist that their suppliers carry BRCGS certifications prior to agreeing to carry their products. 

For a more detailed breakdown of what BRCGS is, what it means for retailers and consumers, and why it is so important to the modern food and beverage industry, read on.

What is a BRCGS certification?

From its inception in 1998 up until 2019, BRCGS was referred to as the BRC, an acronym for the British Retail Consortium. 

The founding goal was to introduce a technical standard and protocol for supplier businesses’ own-brand products, and the first certification was the Basic Food Hygiene Traning/Food Safety for Food Handlers. The move was in response to several topics; rising consumer concerns around food safety incidents, standardising food safety auditing processes, broader standardisation of food manufacturing across different suppliers, and stricter food safety legislation that demanded a normalised framework. 

Almost twenty years later, the now-called BRCGS is one of the most widespread manufacturing certification standards in the world. More than 28,000 global food suppliers have been certified, across 130 countries, with a further network of more than 90 BRCGS-recognised certification bodies. 

BRCGS is not to be confused with HAACP, or Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, a correspondingly widespread food safety framework. Instead, the two work in tandem to produce the safest manufacturing conditions. 

The difference is best summed up as follows: HACCP is a methodology, an approach to food manufacturing specifically designed to identify potential hazards and comprehensively manage them. BRCGS is a certification standard that incorporates HACCP principles regarding hazard management but also demands a commitment to other factors, like quality management systems (QMS) and general management practices (GMPs). 

In order to achieve a BRCGS certification, there are several stages a supplier must undertake, including; 

1. Choose the relevant category – food safety, packaging, distribution, etc.
2. Implement HACCP, QMS and GMP procedures
3. Choose a BRCGS-approved certification body – dependent on location
4. Receive an audit – either scheduled or unscheduled for greater compliance
5. Address non-confirmities
6. Maintain compliance via annual re-certification audits

Certifications are awarded as a letter grade – D, C, B, A, AA, where AA is the highest possible grade. Grades are assessed according to the number of non-conformities a supplier illustrates. Minor issues can be rectified in an agreed-upon time frame without delaying the application. Major non-conformities will stall the process and require immediate rectification before proceeding.

Opening doors

BRCGS certification is important. 70% of the top 10 global retailers and 60% of the top 10 global quick-service restaurants accept or specify BRCGS certification from their suppliers. Additionally, 50% of the top 25 global manufacturers are certified according to the Standard.

Maciej Duszak, co-founder of Hardtank, said in an article for Cold Brew Insights, “If you want to talk to Tesco, Shell, 7-Eleven – any big customer – they will always ask for food safety certifications, especially BRCGS.”

“If you don’t have it, you’re either immediately barred from a supplier relationship, or you will be subject to an audit which takes time and money and slows down the entire selling process.”

By attaining a BRCGS certification, your business is guaranteed better access to key F&B retailers. In the highly competitive food service environment, it is crucial to demonstrate compliance with retailer safety standards quickly and clearly when a supplier opportunity arises.

More efficient operations

As mentioned, businesses hoping to achieve BRCGS certifications also need to demonstrate their GMPs. Certification awarding bodies consider the full scope of business operations, not just food safety. As a result, businesses may need to take steps to ‘clean up shop’ by improving their operational workflows and efficiencies, a process that benefits the supplier’s internal performance. 

“BRCGS dictates the way your manufacturing facility works. It makes the entire production process very well organised and verified. Now, our team works better, with more confidence,” observes Maciej. 

Build consumer trust and confidence

Modern shoppers are far more informed than ever before. They demand high-quality, safe, and sustainable products to match their increasingly health-conscious lifestyles. 

While the average consumer may not understand or seek out BRCGS certifications or HACCP compliance, they trust retailers to do so for them. A recent study published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications found that, in online shopping, retailers will sell more products on trusted shopping platforms. 

Achieving a BRCGS certification instils good business practices and higher product quality and safety. Not only will more retailers consider your business a supplier, but thanks to the mitigation measures taken to achieve the certification in the first place, your products will be better trusted by the end user.  

Product contamination, recall, or general poor performance can be catastrophic to food manufacturers, especially younger or smaller businesses looking to make strong first impressions. Achieving a BRCGS certification is one of the strongest ways to avoid such a scenario. 

At Cold Brew Pak, we offer a range of certified biodegradable, compostable and recyclable packaging solutions for businesses that value safety, hygiene and product quality. Our sustainable packaging for cold brew coffee reinforces your business’s commitment to BRCGS principles.

Whether you are looking for bag-in-box cold brew packaging, cold brew pouches, or BPA-free bottles, Cold Brew Pak can help you create a deeper and more environmentally friendly brand story to enhance and underline your food safety standards. 

Get in touch with our team today to upgrade your cold brew packaging. 

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Photos sourced from Hardtank