Hi all,
First post and all that, so be gentle...
I work as a business advisor with a specialism in food and drink and as such accreditation pops up from time to time. I usually refer in consultants to set up the likes of BRC/ STS and increasingly SALSA but here's a question that i'd like a general opinion on.
I'm working with a well respected agent that imports product from Turkey, Africa and Asia and they would like to attain the above standard but have some reservations. They have been told that BRC accredited companies will (and are) asking for details of source suppliers which from an agents point of view is tantamount to commercial suicide. I've broached this with a BRC consultant who advised my customer to attain the broker / agent standard as this would negate this request. After speaking with the customer about this there is an opinion that the next issue (or even the current issue) has a requirement to reveal the source. Is this correct or just an urban myth?
As an aside I've also worked to secure funding towards SALSA as there is a £5,000 grant available via the TSB innovation voucher.
Its only in the UK but i've had a brewery and pasty company secure the funding.