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Ambient Food Storage & BRC Guide
Ambient food storage warehouses are special. They require the highest standards in every aspect of warehousing – every time. Health and safety regulations, quality and hygiene measures, pest control, regulatory compliance, staff training and more, must all be understood and adhered to when storing consumable products and food packaging. So it’s important to choose a fulfilment partner you can trust with your ambient food storage. But how do you know your third-party food warehouse provider is operating under the right conditions?
In this article we’ll find out more about BRC Global Standards Certification and find out why it’s an essential requirement for many food businesses. As well as what lifts a storage warehouse from simply passing BRC to gaining the highest AA+ rating.
What are BRC Global Standards in Storage and Distribution?
BRC Global Standards are a set of food safety, quality, and operational requirements for food producers and suppliers. There are different certifications for different parts of the food industry including; “Food”, “Packaging”, and the one that matters for fulfilment, “Storage and Distribution”. BRC Certification demonstrates that essential standards have been met. It’s independently assessed and is designed to ensure consistency and quality across the supply chain. There are some key areas of compliance required for BRCGS Certification.
BRCGS: Food Safety and Fulfilment
Supply Chain Safety and Inventory Management:
Distribution and warehousing are an essential link in the food supply chain. And end-to-end quality control checks at every touch point of the storage and distribution journey are vital when handling consumable products. Effective inventory management in ambient storage warehouses is important as it ensures goods are properly tracked and traced.
Regular Audits and Inspections
Audits and inspections are central to BRC Certification. Audit records must be kept as evidence that proper procedures are followed consistently. Unannounced visits can be made by BRC inspectors at any time, and records must be accessible for compliance review.
Staff Training and Development
Continuous training on BRC requirements, HACCP, and general food safety for warehouse staff is central to BRC certification. A clear induction plan for new staff helps ensure there are no knowledge gaps within the ambient storage warehouse team. And personal development, responsibility and ownership are key to gaining the highest AA+ level of BRC Global Standards Certification. Find out about how we empower our people here.
Documentation and Traceability
Detailed documentation is essential for the food industry. Traceability of products is important for food safety and stock management. Batch tracking is vital if a product needs to be recalled and is also key for FIFO (first-in first-out) stock rotation.
Ambient Food Storage
Storing goods at the right temperature is an essential part of food storage. Specialist temperature-controlled warehouses are necessary for goods that must be kept frozen and refrigerated. Ambient storage warehouses need to adhere to BRC regulations with the added cost and demands of tight temperature control.
If it’s not frozen or refrigerated it’s ambient. And consumable goods stored at room temperature (rather than the chillier-side of food storage), still have to meet exacting quality standards. Ambient food storage covers a huge spectrum of products, anything from tinned goods, to packaged snacks, to dried grains and cereal and food packaging can be safely stored in an ambient food warehouse.
Pest Control and Cleanliness
Food is edible for pests as well as people! And pests thrive in ambient temperatures, making pro-active pest control essential when storing consumable items in ambient storage warehouses. Cleanliness and hygiene is also important for food and catering packaging, which must be free of droppings and nibblings!
Prevention is better than cure when it comes to pest-proofing a warehouse. Close-fitting roller shutter doors and maintaining the fabric of the ambient storage warehouse help limit access. Whilst specialist BPCA-certified pest agencies can provide targeted controls. Regular audits and stringent pest control measures ensure that goods are kept safe for human consumption.
Invo Fulfilment AA+ Global Standards Certified Warehousing and Distribution
We are certified at the highest AA+ grade for BRC Global Standards, which means our ambient storage warehouses operate at the highest levels of quality and safety. You can view our certificates and if you need ambient food storage and delivery support then please get in touch.
