Retailers & Buyers

Protecting Your Consumer and Your Brand

SQF certification ensures that the products you buy have passed rigorous international standards for food quality and safety, including HACCP.

The SQF food quality certification is the only program outside Europe recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), which links primary production certification to food manufacturing, distribution and agent/broker management certification.

COMPLIANCE

SQF Certification meets and exceeds many international food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements, which gives you confidence in the companies you work with while minimizing the likelihood and impact of a recall.

CONFIDENCE

The SQF Program is a rigorous and comprehensive food safety and quality program that is based on sound scientific principles, applied across all industry sectors, and valued by all stakeholders.

Global Recognition

The SQF Program is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and accepted by retailers, brand owners, and food service providers world-wide.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

Free access to all SQF codes, supporting documents, audit information, SQF technical experts and customer service.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT

The SQF Program includes a level of certification specifically focused on product quality and the maintenance of private label specifications at the manufacturing level.

REDUCED PRODUCT LOSS

The SQF approach to specification management helps to drive down costs by reducing work and improving operational efficiency.

Supplier Directory

Want to know if your suppliers are SQF-Certified? Check the SQF Assessment Database for suppliers who have had their audits conducted in the ReposiTrak® system.

Supplier Directory

Compliance & Integrity Programs

The SQF Compliance and Integrity Programs (CIPs) help ensure the consistent application of the SQF Program by identifying areas for improvement and enhancing stakeholder trust and confidence in the SQF certificate.

The CIPs measures the quality and integrity of SQF certificates, audits, and SQF professionals in two areas: Monitoring Activities and Stakeholder Feedback.

GET DETAILS ABOUT THE SQF CIPs

Impact on the Supply Chain

Working with SQF Certified suppliers ensures that the products you buy have passed rigorous global standards for food safety and quality. As the only GFSI benchmarked program that links the entire supply chain, SQF certification makes it even easier to find suppliers that are committed to food safety - from the farms all the way to the retail stores. Below are some examples of how the SQF Program can help you mitigate the risk of a food safety and quality crisis from happening.

Step 1:

The Farm

Growing, raising, capturing or farming of products, including livestock, produce and seafood farming.

Step 2:

Manufacturers

Producing or manufacturing a human food product, animal food and feed, supplements, and processing aids.

Step 3:

Packaging

Making, storing and transporting food packaging materials. As well as items used in food manufacturing or food service sites.

Step 4:

Delivery

Receiving, storage, display, consolidation and distribution or perishable fresh produce and general food lines.

Step 5:

The Store

Are your store employees following the processes and procedures set up to ensure the consumer is getting safe and quality items?

Step 6:

The Fork

In our “prosumer” world, consumers utilize their stake in the market to advocate for safer, better quality products and to dictate how those products are made.