Exhibiting at International Food & Drink Event (IFE) 2025

Safe and Local Supplier Approval (SALSA) is the United Kingdom’s premier food safety certification scheme tailored specifically for small and micro food and drink producers. Headquartered in Oxfordshire, SALSA plays a vital role in enabling local suppliers to demonstrate robust food safety and hygiene standards that meet the requirements of major retailers and food service buyers.

Core Business and Role

Established in collaboration with the British Retail Consortium (BRC), Food and Drink Federation (FDF), National Farmers Union (NFU), and UK Hospitality, SALSA provides accessible and affordable third-party certification to UK-based food and drink producers. Its core services include:

• Food Safety Certification Schemes
• Auditing and Compliance Support
• Food Safety Training and Education
• Sector-Specific Certification (Beer, Cheese, Brokers, and Storage)

SALSA enables small producers to meet legal obligations and customer expectations, acting as a bridge between artisan quality and commercial compliance.

Certification Programs

SALSA operates several specialized certification programs:

• SALSA Food & Drink Production – The core scheme applicable to most small producers.
• SALSA plus Beer – Tailored for breweries focusing on cleanliness, process control, and packaging safety.
• SALSA plus Cheese – Designed for cheesemakers with emphasis on hygiene, fermentation environments, and storage.
• SALSA Brokers, Storage & Distribution – Certification for intermediaries and warehousing facilities ensuring traceability and controlled conditions.

Over 1,600 producers are SALSA-approved across a wide array of sectors including bakery, dairy, meat, ready meals, beverages, and condiments.

Training Services

SALSA offers industry-relevant food safety and management training programs both online and in-person. These include:

• Introduction to HACCP – Hazard analysis and critical control points
• Allergen Awareness
• Food Microbiology Basics
• Food Labelling and Legislation
• Traceability and Recall Planning
• Pest Management and Hygiene Standards

These programs help ensure SALSA members and applicants maintain up-to-date compliance and operational readiness.

Membership and Reach

As of 2024, SALSA supports:

• Over 3,000 registered food businesses
• 1,600+ certified sites with active annual renewal cycles
• Hundreds of auditors and technical mentors across the UK

Members range from farm shops and artisan producers to fast-scaling FMCG start-ups preparing to supply major retailers such as Tesco, Waitrose, Co-op, and Sainsbury’s.

Standards and Compliance

The SALSA standard is based on HACCP principles and includes:

• Facility hygiene and cleanliness
• Process control and record keeping
• Ingredient traceability
• Allergen management
• Staff training and personal hygiene
• Cleaning and sanitation procedures

The scheme is recognized by leading UK retailers and wholesalers as a credible assurance of quality for small producers who may not be ready for full BRC certification.

Digital Infrastructure

The SALSA Portal offers a self-service digital platform for:

• Application management
• Audit scheduling
• Corrective action tracking
• Certificate downloads
• Guidance materials and templates

The system also allows buyers to verify the certification status of suppliers through the SALSA Directory, supporting supply chain transparency.

Strategic Impact

SALSA is a crucial enabler for local food economies. Key achievements include:

• Empowering SMEs to enter national supply chains
• Enabling £100M+ in new contracts per year through certified supplier access
• Enhancing regional food security and quality benchmarks
• Supporting rural and artisan producers through affordable quality frameworks

In a landscape where full BRC or ISO 22000 certification may be cost-prohibitive for micro and small businesses, SALSA provides a scalable and credible alternative.

Partnerships and Industry Recognition

SALSA partners include:

• British Retail Consortium (BRCGS)
• Soil Association
• Craft Bakers Association
• Scottish Food and Drink Federation
• Nationwide Food Hubs

Recognized by regulatory bodies and buyer groups, SALSA has been endorsed by major retail compliance departments and trade development programs across the UK.

Public Sentiment and Case Studies

Multiple success stories and testimonials on the SALSA website illustrate how the certification has:

• Opened access to national buyers for farm-based producers
• Supported product launches with improved process traceability
• Reduced risks of food safety incidents and recalls

Producers like The Cornish Cheese Company and Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil cite SALSA as pivotal to their growth beyond local markets.

Key Strengths

• UK’s leading SME-focused food safety scheme
• Custom schemes for niche sectors (beer, cheese, distribution)
• Trusted by major UK retailers
• Affordable, accessible, and scalable certification
• Strong training and support infrastructure

SALSA continues to play an instrumental role in raising the bar for UK food safety, empowering local producers to grow responsibly, and giving buyers the assurance they need to work with artisan and emerging food brands.