News

Don't miss out on increasing your visibility and profile to buyers.  The new SALSA Directory will be launched imminently, make sure you have updated your profile to ensure your company details are visible to buyers. Updating a profile is easy, follow the simple instructions below:

The new directory includes valuable feedback from key stakeholders and buyers who use the directory as a local sourcing tool to assist in this development.  The directory will now have a searchable option allowing buyers to search by company name, postcode and by individual product as opposed to category.

In order for you to increase your profile when a search is conducted by buyers please follow the simple instructions:

Food Fix has successfully helped many businesses work towards SALSA approval, many of these supported with grant-aid. The great news is that Food Fix have identified another fantastic source for grant funding and have teamed up with EMB Ltd to deliver SALSA personal development training with access to 50:50 grant funding. This is STRICTLY a time limited opportunity and is only expected to be available until February.

You may be entitled up to £1000 grant-aid to help deliver your SALSA aspirations. The £1000 grant must be match-funded by the business.

The restrictions are:

• First come first serve for funding – when the funds are allocated the scheme will close
• ALL applications MUST be received by the end of February
• All applicants must be from East Anglia
• Fewer than 250 employees
• At least one employee in addition to the senior leader
• The potential for fast and high growth
• The funds cannot be used to pay for the SALSA audit

Your first point of contact is Food Fix who will guide you through the application process which will include a site visit from a Local Skills Advisor who will help to speed up your application and assess your eligibility to access this funding.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of the SALSA newsletter, we have jammed this issue with festive spirit, including a special look at Bailey's Turkeys who have kindly donated a turkey for our SALSA Christmas competition.  We wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year and look forward to hearing your news for 2012.

The unprecedented accolade to a husband and wife team was in recognition of their contribution to the food industry within Cumbria. Hawkshead Relish have demonstrated an outstanding passion and determination for promoting the County within their own marketing aims with the Hawkshead Relish Shop is now recognised as being a destination for food loving visitors.

The company also exports to 26 countries over 4 continents and upholds Cumbria as being the origin and providing the inspiration for the award winning range.Hawkshead Relish produces over 120 hand made preserves in a converted 16^th century barn at Estwaite on the periphery of Hawkshead. The company has received many endorments and accolades for their excellence in products as well as achievements in Export. December saw the company as a finalist in the BBC Radio 4, Food & Farming awards.

We are delighted to inform suppliers and buyers that the Red Tractor now accepts the SALSA Scheme as an alternative to the BRC Global Standard for small and micro food processing enterprises.  David Clarke states "this is a positive step in assisting the catering contractors working on the Olympic sites to engage with small and local producers aspiring to supply 2012 London Olympics".

Acceptance of SALSA does not extend to fresh meat suppliers where more specific arrangements for smaller meat suppliers have already been in place for some years.

We have put together a document that answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the SALSA approval process.  Please refer to this document initially for answers to your questions however if they do not provide the answer you require please contact the SALSA Helpline 01295 724248.  

 
Food Manufacture magazine's free-to-attend networking debate and lunch for food and drink SMEs is taking place in Leeds at the offices of law firm Eversheds on November 29th, 9.30-14.00.

The event is designed to provide a forum for smaller food and drink manufacturers and producers to tackle political, legal and commercial areas of concern to them.  The meeting will be chaired by a representative from the Federation of Small Businesses, but input will largely be provided by the delegates themselves. Attendees from a wide range of food and drink categories have already signed up.

Over 19 delegates have been successfully trained in HACCP Understanding since the launch of the courses in September.  Delegates have found the courses extremely beneficial and interactive providing clear guidance on what can be a complicated subject area for small businesses.  SALSA will be delivering HACCP Level 1 and Level 2 courses in the New Year on a national basis, please check the website for the latest information regarding dates and venues.

"The HACCP training run by SALSA was extremely beneficial for all of my staff, who could understand the importance of their indvidual roles within the work flow.  The information was presented in an informative and interactive way which helped everyone understand and leave felling confident about improving our existing HACCP documents" (Jane Hadley, Hadleys Dairy)

"The day has helped us to simplify and develop our HACCP plans into a working document rather than a file of unused regulations" (Rob Mutimer, Swannington Farm to Fork)

"Completing the SALSA course means I am confident that we are doing the right thing and it gave me a clear vision of where we need to be in terms of food safety" (Antony Higgins, The I Way)