In recent years, there have been several food-related outbreaks of illness, which have led to reputational damage along the entire value chain. As a raw material supplier, we are aware of our role at the beginning of the supply chain and take a range of precautions to ensure the safety and quality of our products. After all, in the food and feed industry in particular, the quality and thus the health of animals and consumers must not be called into question.
“My journey within the COFERMIN Group began in 2019 together with my colleague Derk Proff, when we were given the opportunity to expand and rebuild the existing product portfolio of technical specialty products within COFERMIN Chemicals with two new and separate divisions for the food and feed industries. We spent a lot of time in the first year creating an HACCP system and integrating the quality parameters listed there into the existing business processes so that they would meet the requirements for trading in food and feed additives. In addition, we dealt with the complex requirements of IFS and GMP+ certifications and were able to successfully complete our certifications in 2020. Quality management must be more than just a certificate on the wall. In my view, it is a living process that must be reflected in every phase of the production, transport, and storage of food and feed additives. We only select manufacturers who deliver the right quality!”
The feed industry is the Achilles heel of the food industry system
The dioxin scandal clearly showed that not only were there gaps in the monitoring system, but above all that price pressure was leading to attempts to cut costs at all levels. Poor quality can, of course, lead to product recalls with the associated loss of reputation and, in some cases, legal consequences.
As a raw material supplier, we are at the beginning of the value chain, which means that our products have a direct influence on food, or indirectly through feed for livestock. We therefore see ensuring the quality of our raw materials not only as safeguarding our business, but also as a responsibility towards the health of consumers.
In order to reliably guarantee high quality standards, we at COFERMIN take on this daily challenge, which is reflected in many facets of our business. We have a comprehensive quality policy and require standards such as ISO 9001, HACCP, FSSC 22000, and GMP+.
Our quality management begins with the selection of our suppliers and continues with strict controls of our products through laboratory tests, unannounced audits, and constant monitoring of the manufacturing process. The combination of these instruments and the trusting cooperation with our suppliers and customers is the basis of our work and the key to our success.
To be clear: there is no room for error when it comes to quality. Those who cut corners here risk not only their business, but also the health of humans and animals. In an industry that is all about health and well-being, quality must never be an empty promise. It must be the foundation on which everything else is built. May we convince you? Let’s talk!
