BigCold is the first FSSC certified food storage and transport company in East Africa
Nairobi, Kenya – BigCold Logistics, Kenya’s leading cold storage and logistics company, announced today that it has become the first food storage and transport company in East Africa to achieve Food Safety System Certification 22000 (“FSSC 22000”). FSSC 22000 provides a framework for certifying and auditing Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), which meets the Global Food Safety Initiative’s (GFSI) Benchmarking Requirements – the highest food safety standards in the world. In adopting FSSC 22000’s stringent requirements, BigCold has implemented the most robust food safety management system for transport and storage activities in East Africa.
“FSSC 22000 delivers a framework for food safety management using best practices to ensure consumer safety,” said Newton Matope, President of BigCold. “BigCold places the highest level of importance on the safe handling of food and food-related products. By pursing and achieving FSSC 22000 certification, we are further demonstrating our deep commitment to food safety for our customers.”
Transport and storage service providers must ensure the safety of the food products they handle. FSSC 22000 certification requires that providers undertake a thorough analysis of the processes and related hazards to identify food safety risks and implement measures to eliminate those risks, including controls for food defense and food fraud to protect the consumer. Large retailers and manufacturers expect their suppliers and service providers to achieve FSSC 22000 certification to help prevent illness and product recalls.
“We congratulate BigCold Kenya Limited on being the first FSSC22000 certified transport and storage company in East Africa,” said Cor Groenveld, Market Development Director, FSSC 22000. “This is a major achievement for the company, the region and FSSC 22000. Transport and Storage is a very important activity in the food supply chain to ensure food safety and quality of the products. And temperature controlled transport and storage is even more critical especially in countries with high temperature climates and developing infrastructures. By having a Food Safety Management System that meets the FSSC 22000 requirements, BigCold Kenya shows they have a very high level of assurance in their processes. They also set an example for other food organizations in East Africa and the rest of the African continent that FSSC 22000 can support them in the assurance of food safety in the food supply chain.”
About BigCold Logistics
Leveraging best-in-class technologies, BigCold offers comprehensive, sophisticated, customized cold chain solutions across East Africa. BigCold is the only cold chain logistics provider in East Africa that meets FSSC 22000 and Yum! Brand’s – the company behind KFC and Pizza Hut – strict food safety standards. Their world-class facilities and systems ensure that clients’ products are safe and their supply chain is efficient. BigCold’s facilities provide reliable and efficient temperature-controlled storage facilities offering frozen, chilled, ambient-controlled and ambient storage equipped with real-time temperature monitoring systems and backup power generators. BigCold specializes in transport solutions for frozen, chilled and ambient goods offering dedicated door-to-door service, customized delivery runs and cargo consolidation to a variety of clients including quick service restaurants, retail outlets, restaurants and hotels. BigCold is a BlackIvy endeavor. Anchored in East and West Africa, BlackIvy is a values-driven company that builds and grows commercial enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa that unlock new sources of growth. BlackIvy has offices in Accra, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi and Washington, D.C.
About FSSC 22000
FSSC 22000 is a globally acknowledged benchmark food safety standard established by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) that integrates the international food safety management system standard ISO 22000 with PAS 220. It includes both the requirements for a Food Safety Management System found in ISO 22000 and the requirements for Prerequisite Programs found in the PAS 220.
FSSC 22000 provides a platform for the integration of food safety and quality management with other management systems such as those governing environmental safety, sustainability and occupational health and safety. The FSSC 22000 scheme is managed by Foundation FSSC 22000 and governed by an independent Board of Stakeholders which consists of representatives from several sectors in the food industry.
About Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is an initiative of The Consumer Goods Forum which brings retailers, manufacturers and food service companies together to collaboratively drive continuous improvement in food safety management systems around the world. GFSI benchmarks food safety certification programmes against a basic set of criteria in its GFSI Benchmarking Requirements. Food safety certification programmes which meet this set of criteria achieve GFSI recognition. Many large retailers and manufacturers are requesting their suppliers to register to a GFSI-recognised certification programme. GFSI-recognised certification programs include: provision of transport and storage service for perishable food and feed; provision of transport and storage services for ambient stable food; and distribution for retail and wholesale.
