15Jun2010
Quirch Foods Rated “˜A” In Global Food Safety Standards
Miami Distribution Center Receives Perfect Score in Safety Compliance
MIAMI – Quirch Foods’ distribution centers in Miami and Orlando have been awarded ‘A’ grades for food safety from an independent auditing firm recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
The Miami distribution center of Quirch Foods was found to be 100 percent compliant in ‘Warehouse/Distribution Center Assessment,’ while the Orlando center received a 97 percent grade.
Robert Berman of the independent auditing firm SGS called Quirch Food’s safety standards and distribution centers “very impressive.”
“(Quirch Foods) has implemented systems most distributors have yet to develop,” Berman said.
Howard Tenen, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance Manager at Quirch, said the SGS audit was one of many steps Quirch continues to make to stay “ahead of the curve in food safety and to make sure Quirch is compliant with the Global Food Safety Initiative program.”
The Global Food Safety Initiative is a collaboration between some of the world’s leading food safety experts from retailer, manufacturer and food service companies, as well as service providers associated with the food supply chain.
The SGS audit included food safety operations and procedures from the time Quirch receives product to the time it’s delivered, including temperature control during shipping and storage. The audit concluded Quirch was also compliant with paperwork related to Standard Sanitary Operating procedures and all paperwork related to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points.
Quirch Food continues to set new standards in food safety, whether through the construction of its own laboratory in Miami, DNA Testing for species identification at the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center, or its ability to trace every case of product from the farm to its customers’ locations.
“We want to make sure the food is safe coming in and maintains its quality to the consumer,” Tenen said.
Quirch Foods was established in 1967 as a distributor and exporter of meat and seafood in South Florida and the Caribbean. At the time we serviced a handful of independent retailers and restaurants. The company has since become one of the largest suppliers of fresh and frozen foods in the Southeastern U.S. and the Americas.
Its account list includes thousands of retail and foodservice customers, including:
“¢ Independent Grocers
“¢ Chain Supermarkets
“¢ Foodservice Distributors
“¢ Cruise Lines
“¢ Restaurants
“¢ Food Processors & Manufacturers
With over 100 customer service, sales, and retail merchandising specialists on our teams, Quirch Foods maintains one of the highest levels of personalized service in the industry.
