KENYA – BigCold Logistics, Kenya’s leading cold storage and logistics company, has received the Food Safety System Certification 22000 (FSSC 22000), becoming the first food storage and transport company in East Africa to get the certification.
The FSSC 22000 provides a framework for certifying and auditing Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), which meets the Global Food Safety Initiative’s (GFSI) benchmarking requirements, which ranks as the highest food safety standards in the world.
In adopting FSSC 22000’s stringent requirements, BigCold said that it had implemented the most robust food safety management system for transport and storage activities in East Africa.
“FSSC 22000 delivers a framework for food safety management using best practices to ensure consumer safety,” said Newton Matope, President of BigCold.
“BigCold places the highest level of importance on the safe handling of food and food-related products.
“By pursing and achieving FSSC 22000 certification, we are further demonstrating our deep commitment to food safety for our customers,” Newton adds.
FSSC 22000 certification requires that providers undertake a thorough analysis of the processes and related hazards to identify food safety risks and implement measures to eliminate the risks.
Cor Groenveld, Market Development Director, FSSC 22000 hailed the company’s efforts towards ensuring food safety highlighting that transport and storage service providers must ensure the safety of the food products they handle.
“We congratulate BigCold Kenya Limited on being the first FSSC22000 certified transport and storage company in East Africa,” Groenveld said.
“This is a major achievement for the company, the region and FSSC 22000. Transport and Storage is a very important activity in the food supply chain to ensure food safety and quality of the products.
“Temperature controlled transport and storage is even more critical especially in countries with high temperature climates and developing infrastructures.
“By having a Food Safety Management System that meets the FSSC 22000 requirements, BigCold Kenya shows they have a very high level of assurance in their processes.
“They also set an example for other food organizations in East Africa and the rest of the African continent that FSSC 22000 can support them in the assurance of food safety in the food supply chain.”
BigCold, the company behind KFC and Pizza Hut, offers comprehensive, sophisticated and customized cold chain solutions across East Africa.
The firm specializes in transport solutions for frozen, chilled and ambient goods with its storage and transport facilities equipped with real-time temperature monitoring systems.
