Top Seedz LLC
SQF9 Certification Aids Growth to New Markets
Rebecca Brady, CEOInsyte provided the guidance and expertise to smoothly implement a system that was effective and passed the certification on the first try. Insyte’s experience provided confidence that it would work. Perfect timing for growth cycle from business standpoint to add this certification.
The Company
Top Seedz is a woman-owned business launched in Buffalo in 2017. The company produces artisanal crackers and seed mixes using organic, gluten-free seeds and flours available in major retailers and online.
The Challenge
Many retailers and food service providers, including many large grocers and club stores, require their suppliers to have Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification as a condition of doing business. Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification is built upon three main concepts: food safety, food quality, and following the law. Top Seedz sales had grown with top grocers to a point SQF9 certification was required. SQF9 certification would also help the company expand into new grocers as well as markets in new countries.
Our Solution
Using an industry expert consultant, Insyte Consulting helped Top Seedz implement a SQF quality system. Employees were trained in advanced food safety competencies as a basis for implementing and sustaining the food safety program. Since SQF requires annual internal audits of the food safety system to evaluate the compliance of the entire program to the current SQF standard, new employees were trained in internal auditing procedures and were certified for HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) concepts for food processing. As a result of this implementation Top Seedz was subsequently certified to SQF9 standard.
