The newly upgraded BRCGS Global Standard for Storage and Distribution will be adopted by HelloFresh, a leading meal kit company. The new version of the Standard, which was launched in November 2020, has been expanded to include e-commerce operations and aims to ensure the quality and safety of Hello Fresh products during their storage and distribution throughout the supply chain.

HelloFresh actively participated in the development of the new standard in order to ensure that it reflected the needs of a fast-moving sector including increased service expectations, combined with a greater need for personalised, as well as individual and bespoke orders. Supply chains have become faster, more flexible and more customised to meet the needs of the markets they serve.

The Standard has been successfully piloted in the Netherlands.  The company will be rolling it out across Germany, the UK, Netherlands , Sweden, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia over the course of the next two years.

With over 600 million meals delivered to 5 million customers in 2020, HelloFresh is seeking certification to the new Standard to demonstrate industry best practice to its customers and partners. HelloFresh has built its brand on providing food options that are healthy, tasty and sustainable. It has recognised that BRCGS certification can help protect its reputation and enhance these core values. The Standard will also reduce the cost of wastage and the potential liabilities associated with storage and distribution.

The Standard has been developed with input from leading brands, retailers, storage, logistics and online retailers, and has seen 16% year on year growth with sites certified in over 50 countries. Issue 4 of the Standard has been upgraded to provide supply chain visibility and assurance of current industry operations such as e-commerce and cross-docking. It has also been developed to be in line with GFSI 2020 requirements.

John Kukoly, BRCGS director, said: “We are delighted that HelloFresh, one of the world’s leading online food retailers, has recognised the reassurance that our Standards and certification programmes give them as a brand. Our new Storage and Distribution Standard has evolved to meet changing consumer expectations and supply chain dynamics, to ensure that brands can maintain assurance in product safety and integrity. We look forward to working with HelloFresh to protect its strong brand.”

Adam Best, senior director International Food Safety and Assurance, HelloFresh, said: “As a global food brand, HelloFresh strives to be the industry leader and a trusted source for the safety and quality of our products. Partnering with BRCGS Standards is part of our wider food safety and quality strategy of using industry recognised GFSI standards as well as internal assessment to proactively manage risk and quality. It’s been great to partner with BRCGS throughout the development of the standard which has meant this now reflects the evolving industry, especially towards e-commerce. Rolling out BRCGS within our own operations also sends a clear message to our customers, partners and investors that food safety and quality is a priority.”