Benefits of BRCGS Certification: Data-Driven Insights
BRCGS certification, recognized for its rigorous standards, presents a challenging yet rewarding path for businesses aiming to elevate their food safety and quality practices. This article will explore the key benefits of BRCGS certification, leveraging data to highlight real-world successes and measurable advantages for businesses.
Do I Need BRCGS Certification?
BRCGS certification (previously known as BRC certification) is a voluntary certification scheme to ensure food safety and quality within the global food supply chain. It applies to a broad spectrum of entities including food manufacturing, packaging, storage, and distribution. BRCGS sets high standards for operational practices and product safety.
Although BRCGS certification is voluntary, it is a prerequisite for doing business with many leading retailers, who mandate it to ensure their suppliers adhere to the highest standards of food safety and quality.
What Are the Key Benefits of BRCGS Certification?
BRCGS certification, like other benchmarked certification programs, offers benefits to businesses across the food supply chain, from food producers to retailers. These are the key benefits:
Improve Food Safety
As intended, BRCGS certification significantly enhances food safety. According to an interesting 2021 report published on the BRCGS website covering the economic impacts of BRCGS certification on manufacturing sites, 80% of respondents highlighted the production of safe food as their primary motivation for undergoing the BRCGS audit and seeking certification. This focus on safety is critical to protecting your brand. By achieving and maintaining BRCGS certification, businesses report a 40% reduction in food recalls, directly translating to reduced regulatory and reputational risks.
Increase Operational Efficiency
Businesses that attain BRCGS certification experience additional benefits as a result of changes in production methods necessary to comply with BRCGS standards. Out of over 450 BRCGS-certified manufacturers surveyed:
50% invested in new or improved plant and equipment
27% upgraded their information technology systems
28% refined their product development processes
50% of manufacturers reported reduced customer audits after BRCGS certification.
BRCGS certification is an investment in your operations that yields more efficient production flows and long-term financial benefits. While BRCGS requires increased scrutiny of your operations, this increased scrutiny leads to efficiency gains for the majority of food manufacturers.
Expand Market Access
BRCGS is accepted by 70% of the world’s top 10 retailers, significantly expanding market access for certified businesses and enhancing your company’s ability to compete globally. In fact,over half of the certified businesses surveyed reported increased competitiveness in their domestic market, and 60% reported increased competitiveness in international markets. This underscores certification as a key differentiator in the competitive food industry landscape. This growth is attributed to the certification's recognition as a mark of quality and safety by retailers worldwide, facilitating entry into new markets.
BRCGS certification also led to product innovation in 30% of respondents, contributing to an average profitability increase of around 6% for those reporting financial gains from certification.
Maximize the Advantages of BRCGS Certification with QIMA/WQS
Choosing QIMA/WQS for your BRCGS certification means partnering with a team that brings over 30 years of experience in the food industry supply chain.
Specialized exclusively in the food sector, we streamline and accelerate the complex certification process. With more than 9,000 satisfied clients across every stage of the food supply chain, QIMA/WQS stands as your best choice for ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality in the food industry.
Contact us to learn more about BRCGS certification or book an audit today.
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