Is your sauce supplier as safe as they say?
When a sauce goes on your menu, your name goes on it. Your customers don’t know who made the aioli on their burger. They just trust it’s safe, and that’s on you.
Here’s what to ask, and how Groenz measures up.
1. Which food safety standard are you audited against?
Ask which standard the supplier is certified to. Look for one benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), so food buyers around the world recognise it.
Our answer: Groenz is BRCGS Food Safety certified, which is benchmarked by GFSI. We also run a HACCP-based food safety system as part of that certification. We work out where things could go wrong at each step of production and put controls in place to stop them.
2. What grade do you hold, and when was your last audit?
A certificate on the wall doesn’t tell you much on its own. Ask for the grade and the audit date. A recent audit with a high grade shows the site is being checked regularly, not just once. An unannounced audit is a stronger sign again, because the site had no time to prepare.
Our answer: AA+ at our most recent BRCGS audit in November 2025. The “+” means it was unannounced. We’re audited every year.
3. How do you manage allergens?
This is the one you can’t get wrong. Ask how the supplier manages allergens, and whether it’s checked as part of their audit.
Our answer: Allergen management is part of the BRCGS audit. Here’s how it works at our site:
Ingredients and suppliers are assessed for allergens before anything arrives.
Allergenic ingredients are clearly identified, stored safely and handled with dedicated utensils to prevent cross-contact.
Allergen products are scheduled together, then followed by the required cleaning.
Every team member is trained in allergen awareness, from Quality to Warehouse to Production.
4. Can you trace a batch if there’s a recall?
When a recall hits, speed matters. Ask whether the supplier can trace a batch quickly and tell you what’s affected.
Our answer: Traceability is part of the BRCGS audit. If there’s ever a recall, we and our distributors can trace a batch quickly and tell you what’s affected.
Four questions to ask before you sign
These work on any supplier, not just us:
Which food safety standard are you audited against?
What grade do you hold, and when was your last audit?
How do you manage allergens?
Can you trace a batch if there’s a recall?
We’re happy to answer all four. Looking for sauces for your menu? Get in touch with the Groenz team to talk through what you need or request a sample.
