Origins of SALSA

1. The certification scheme to meet the due-diligence needs of national buyers sourcing food from local producers

2. Origins of SALSA Began with informal discussions in 2004 instigated by the BRC Need for a food safety standard for small businesses where BRC Global Standard was too ‘big’ or too ’expensive’ Mustn’t be ‘BRC lite’ and perceived as less effective at delivering safe food to consumers Words to avoid were ‘cheaper’, ‘easier’ Invited ‘stakeholders’ to input ideas

3. Initial stakeholders consulted Retailers Foodservice Food Manufacturers Farmers Food Standards Agency DEFRA Food From Britain Food Technology Centres Small Business Service NHS Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Institute of Food science and Technology IMPROVE ( Food & Drink Sector Skills Council) Forum of Private Business University of Salford

4. Fundamentals product safety product legality supplier and buyer due-diligence appropriate to small businesses

5. Stakeholder vision should be a ‘scheme’ and not just another standard must ‘add value’ to small businesses minimal costs but within a controlled framework managed by a professional, competent body if possible, provide additional services to small businesses

6. Partners in Joint Venture

7. Scheme structure Ownership - a Contractual Joint Venture between the four industry Partners Governance - a Council chaired by Lady Sylvia Jay of Food from Britain Run as a not for profit scheme by the owners Scheme must become self-funding to be sustainable Scheme operations contracted to credible food industry organisations IFST (with SFQC as partner for Scotland)

8. Scheme objective To provide the UK food industry with an appropriate food safety certification scheme for small and local producers that isreliable, affordable and effective.

9. Scheme objective Reliable– a standard that is accepted buy the UK food buying community as ‘fit for purpose’ and meeting their due-diligence needs. Affordable– reversing the current trend of making ‘large’ company supply unaffordable to ‘small’ producers Effective– delivering tangible food safety improvements for Suppliers and building the confidence of Buyers

10. Operational requirements Needs to be a robust scheme accepted by national buyers from the different purchasing sectors Must include a professional audit performed by a credible body of independent auditors who can provide sound technical guidance Must be a low-cost and affordable approval process for small and local suppliers Scheme must become self-funding to be sustainable Must ensure the continued technical support of scheme participants

11. SALSA 12 months ago Funding received from Scottish Food & Drink, Highlands & Islands Enterprise in Scotland and DEFRA in England Scheme developed and tested Initial protocols and documents developed Partly functioning website developed SALSA launched at IFE in March 2007 14 successful pilot scheme participants in Scotland were awarded certificates in March and April 2007

12. The first SALSA Certificate at IFE

13. Progress since launch 70 auditors and mentors trained Thirteen regional training events Sponsored by FSA and stakeholders SFQC ASDA Mitchells & Butlers Elior Sainsbury’s 3663 Auditor’s website pages launched Additional protocols and documents developed Feedback from auditors and mentors collected

15. SALSA at end of October 2008 1210 online registrations via website Suppliers 812 Buyers 318 Auditors/Mentors 87

17. Suppliers at end of October 2008 • 812 registered • 349 members • 193 first audits • 30 annual audits

19. Auditor & mentor approval IFST Register of Professional Food Auditors & Mentors Pre-requisite Demonstrates credible experience in given sectors Demonstrates auditor qualification and experience SALSA application form and declaration completed Professional indemnity insurance certificate required Attendance at a one-day training seminar Annual registration to IFST - PFAM Annual attendance of regional training seminar No training fees in 2008 due to FSA sponsorship

20. Pricing policy from April 2008 Supplier membership remains at £50 First year audit increased to £450 (from £400) Membership includes access to web-based information and resources and entry into SALSA directory Audit fee includes cost of one audit, report and publication of certificate in Suppliers directory Audit fee inclusive of local travel expenses Annual membership £500 (including audit fee)

21. Pricing policy from April 2008 Buyers still have free access to website limited to News bulletins SALSA directory Mentor directory Buyers encouraged (or asked) to sponsor SALSA auditor & mentor regional training seminars etc participation in the Technical Committee

22. The SALSA website designed to facilitate buyer access to local producers designed to be simple and easy to use SALSA directory of suppliers and approval status accessible to buyers provides some free downloadable information online membership of scheme for suppliers gives access to valuable information, guidelines, support and book an audit directory of Mentors accessible to suppliers ongoing development of additional services of benefit to suppliers and buyers (eg local services directory, local networking forums, access to local funding initiatives)

25. Some of the scheme supporters

26. Scheme membership supplier joins scheme on-line and pays £50+vat SALSA directory entry activated access to additional support documents access to local mentors access to funding for mentors and support

30. Audit booking supplier orders and pays for audit online (£450+vat) SALSA match supplier with a local auditor with correct sector qualifications and experience auditor contacts supplier to check readiness and offer advice auditor will arrange the audit to suit supplier within 28 days

31. Audit performance standard duration on-site audit is one half-day auditor records findings on checklist and assesses level of performance prior to a wash-up meeting auditor raises and discusses items for action or improvement and prepares an action plan with supplier auditor and supplier sign action plan as an agreement

32. Supplier approval SALSA operations make approval decision based on auditor’s recommendation and a review of supplier’s returned action plan if approved, certificate of is placed in directory and report emailed to supplier if not approved, no certificate in directory but report still issued – supplier re-applies for audit when ready supplier given further advice by SALSA operations regarding further support and resources available

34. Benefits The scheme is owned by the industry bodies who have a direct interest in supplier development and improvement The scheme allows small product and ingredient manufacturers to provide assurance of food safety and increase their access to larger customers The scheme provides a robust certification using a standard that is appropriate and proportionate to the size of the producer – effectively, an alternative to BRC Global Standard The scheme addresses the increasing demand by consumers for local and regional foods

35. Benefits The scheme fulfils the requirements of the Government’s sustainability strategy and its Public Sector Procurement Initiative The scheme will discourage the proliferation of similar standards The scheme provides a route to supportive funding and a means to measure the effectiveness of funded projects

36. www.salsafood.co.uk