Time to SALSA...???
08 December 2009
If you are a small or medium sized food producer supplying retail outlets SALSA could be for you?
SALSA is the Food Safety Certification Scheme for small to medium sized producers. With the growing popularity of local and regionally sourced products among industry and consumers, the scheme provides national and regional buyers with the confidence that SALSA approved businesses not only make fantastic products, but do so in a safe and legal manner. SALSA is supported by the Food Standards Agency, DEFRA and by the majority of the UK's leading retailers and food service providers.
SFQC helped develop SALSA originally and is responsible for coordinating services in Scotland and Northern Ireland. We are now running a SALSA support programme part-funded by the Scottish Government Marketing Development Scheme that helps businesses prepare for being audited against the SALSA standard. This programme allows food businesses to access up to 3 additional mentoring days for the price of just 1. In addition SFQC has teamed up with a number of additional partners including East Ayrshire Council, Seafish and Scotland Food and Drink to help reduce this cost further. Scottish Enterprise may also be able to assist with mentoring assistance costs.
20 food producer businesses across Scotland have either been mentored or are in the process of doing so since the programme's launch in the summer. There is scope within the 3 year programme for up to 100 businesses to be assisted. For more information on SALSA visit their website http://www.salsafood.co.uk/ and/or contact the SFQC Salsa Technical Support Manager, Hazel Gordon at hazel.gordon@sfqc.co.uk to register your potential interest and find out more.
To find out more about SALSA click here