Vanilla Etc - Experts in Vanilla and Food Safety Culture
We caught up with SALSA member Vanilla Etc and talked about their approach to food safety certification and why they chose SALSA. Natalie Madgett, Finance, Sales and Technical Director of Vanilla Etc told us,
"We supply vanilla beans, powder, pods, seeds and extract to food service and other manufacturing businesses. We have been SALSA Certified since 2019 and have been continually learning and evolving as a business as a direct result of this. We first chose to become SALSA-approved so potential customers would be confident in using us as an approved supplier.
Through the expertise of various external consultants, we were able to bring our business practices up to the high standard that SALSA requires. When you do something new and unfamiliar, it can often feel like a challenge, and implementing the SALSA standard was no different.
Once we got to grips with it, it became a way of life in everything we do within the business. It has instilled excellent values and standards and is now the normal/only way we conduct ourselves - which is no longer difficult.
By completing internal audits throughout the year alongside our annual SALSA audit, we can ensure we continue to improve and meet the necessary requirements as we go along. Each of our audits has been professionally conducted and felt structured and organised. Although I always feel nervous on the day of the audit, the auditors have always put me at ease which definitely helps the process!
We highly recommend SALSA to any food and drink producer who wishes to be viewed as a professional business."
Last year Vanilla Etc launched a dedicated retail-only brand called Bonilla. The idea behind this new brand is to bring professional vanilla products to the home bakers of Britain. We wish them well with this venture!
