As hospitality and foodservice establishments prepare for the busiest time of the year, leading up to the Christmas and New Year season, it’s evident that consumers place a high importance on getting value for their money when deciding where and how often they’ll dine out and enjoy drinks during this festive period.
According to research conducted by Bidfood and 3Gem, 57% of consumers prioritise price as the most significant factor in their decision-making process, in contrast to the 47% who favour quality as the primary determinant.
For those in the foodservice industry crafting their menus, one effective approach to provide both quality and affordability for customers is to collaborate with well-established accreditation programs that cover various aspects of the menu. Displaying a recognised logo or accreditation can serve as a straightforward means to assure customers of the quality, sustainability, and origin of the products.
For businesses seeking guidance in navigating the various accreditation programs available in the market, here is a comprehensive overview of some of the most widely adopted food and beverage accreditations.
Red Tractor ::The Red Tractor logo is found on British food and drink products that have been certified to its high standards. The Red Tractor logo can only be used on food that has been produced, transported, stored and packed to Red Tractor standards and licensing rules, and covers more types of food than any other scheme. The standards across all farming sectors, such as chicken, dairy or vegetables, have been agreed by a panel of experts to ensure that they are as robust as possible. We supply a wide range of Red Tractor diary directly to chefs and caterers and our friends over at Campbell Brothers have an incredible range of Red Tractor meats.
Quality Meat Scotland : QMS is responsible for helping the Scottish red meat sector improve its efficiency and profitability and maximise its contribution to Scotland’s economy. The Campbell Brothers North site in Bonnyrigg, Scotland is QMS assured, providing a provenance guarantee.
Farm Assured Welsh Livestock ::The FAWL Beef and Lamb scheme is operated by Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers Ltd., a cooperative of over 7000 Welsh farmers. The scheme provides assurance of farm standards in Wales.
Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assurance Scheme :: NIFQA provides high standards for farmed meat in Northern Ireland, taking in food safety, animal welfare, and care for the environment.
Soil Association : Any food product sold as organic in the UK must comply with organic regulation requirements written into a set of standards. Organic certification is a requirement to demonstrate a product or operation has met these legal standards. The Soil Association symbol is a recognised mark of organic certification internationally, and organic standards apply to all aspects of organic manufacturing and production, storage and sales. It’s worth noting that some other regions of the world, such as the US and EU, recognise different organic standards to the UK, when it comes to wine.
Halal Food Authority : HFA is an independent, voluntary non-profit organisation, and the trading arm of the Halal Food Foundation charity. HFA is involved in the supervision, inspection, audit, certification, and compliance of halal principles and practices in the UK food and beverages industry and certifies suppliers accordingly. You can purchase a vast range of Halal certified products from Campbell Brothers sites in both London, and Scotland.
Food For Life : Food for Life is a Soil Association programme designed to encourage making good food the easy choice for everyone. Food for Life works with schools, hospitals and care homes, helping them build knowledge and skills about healthy eating.
Fairtrade ::Fairtrade works with farming co-operatives, businesses and governments. The Fairtrade Mark is a registered certification label that guarantees farmers a fair price for products such as coffee, cocoa, fruit and wine. The mark is used on products certified in accordance with Fairtrade Standards and on promotional materials to encourage people and businesses to buy Fairtrade products.
MSC : The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organisation, working with fisheries, seafood companies and scientists to help protect the oceans and safeguard seafood supplies. The blue MSC ecolabel identifies fish and seafood that have been caught in a sustainable way. The ecolabel is awarded to well-managed fisheries that meet the MSC’s independently verified standards for sustainable seafood production.
ASC : The Aquaculture Stewardship Council applies similar standards to farmed fish as the MSC does to wild fish. More than half the seafood eaten around the world is farmed, creating a large, growing industry with a significant global impact. ASC certification sets the standard for seafood farmed with care, working to the highest assurance and transparency standards. Our fresh fish partners at Direct Seafoods offer one of the largest ranges of MSC and ASC certified seafood of any UK foodservice supplier.
Vegetarian Society : The Vegetarian Society operates an approved trademark scheme which accredits products and services as vegetarian or vegan. The trademarks are commonly seen on retail products such as food and drink, clothes and household items. Accreditation also extends to restaurant menus, as well as allowing operators to describe specific products or dishes as vegetarian or vegan.
Food Made Good : Overseen by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, the Food Made Good Standard is tailored for the restaurant sector. With an approach that includes every aspect of sustainability, the Standard is awarded to restaurants and food & beverage businesses that meet a set of criteria focused on sourcing, society and environment. It is rooted in practical actions that foodservice businesses can take, providing support and a recognised third-party certification that customers and stakeholders can trust.
BRC : The BRC (British Retail Consortium) Global Standard for Food Safety is the leading audit scheme in this field. It provides a robust Food Safety Programme (HACCP) and Quality Management system, good manufacturing processes, and traceability and transparency in the supply chain. We hold certification to this standard, to provide assurance of our commitment to food safety and quality, as do our brand partners at Campbell Brothers and Direct Seafoods.
There are also local and regional food quality, award and assurance schemes around the UK, which can help to promote menus to customers looking to support local food producers when they eat out.
Need support to offer menus that meet customer expectations of both quality and value? Speak to the specialist advisers at Oliver Kay.
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