Vilniaus Duona bakeries receive the highest ratings of the BRC food safety certificate
Vilniaus Duona bakeries in Panevėžys and Vilnius have completed a major project – preparation for BRC food safety certification. Vilnius bakery was given the highest AA rating, while Panevėžys bakery was given an A rating. In the field of food production, BRC is the most valued certification.
In May, auditors thoroughly inspected the bakeries against many parameters and gave the company official certificates.
For the BRC production company – like a beach Blue Flag
"We received the highest grades, AA and A. This is a huge recognition that we constantly ensure the highest quality and safety," said Viktorija Lėgaudaitė-Lydekaitienė, Quality Manager of Vilniaus Duona, who is leading the certification project.
"For a manufacturing company to receive a BRC certificate is similar to getting a Blue Flag for a beach: in terms of cleanliness, quality, safety and recognition. BRC is granted only to those manufacturing companies that adhere to extremely strict production standards and are able to ensure the highest quality at all stages of the supply chain," added the Quality Manager.
Graded as bank ratings
Viktorija emphasized that in order to receive this certificate, the company must meet the highest requirements of hygiene, good production practice, food safety, and quality requirements. Like bank ratings, this certificate is issued with a graduation degree – where AA is the highest rating.
"Just as banks have their own rating, which indicates reliability, so do manufacturers have an analogous rating.
Many of the largest retail chains in Europe require suppliers to be certified according to BRC, IFS or FSSC 22000. These certificates help to access international markets, strengthen relationships with distributors and reduce food safety risks."
Retail chains also demand
Viktorija adds that this certificate is a necessary document in order to supply products to large retail chains.
"The certificate is also required when working with large retail chains, supplying their brand products, as well as entering new markets. LIDL also requires one of the GFSI certificates for its private label products," she says.
The certificate is valid for one year and when certifying with this standard, the company undertakes to have an unreported audit once every 3 years, so quality must be ensured continuously. In addition, the quality standard itself is updated every five years.
A huge team worked
Viktorija thanks the whole team that worked on the project.
"Since the certificate touches practically all aspects of the company, from technology, production, quality to marketing and sales, a lot of colleagues are involved in it. I would like to thank the employees and managers of the Vilnius and Panevėžys bakeries, the specialists of the quality department, technologists, shift managers, the employees of the technical department, the new product development department, the expedition staff and all those who contributed. We have done a great job and once again proved that we are in the top league in the field of production. Thank you all!", thanked Viktorija Lėgaudaitė-Lydekaitienė, Quality Manager of Vilniaus Duona.
He has had the certificate since 2018.
Vilniaus Duona has had the BRC certificate since 2018. All bakeries in the group are certified by the Lantmännen Unibake Group. "You can't prepare for such a project in a month. A company that wants to prepare for a certificate must already have high quality standards and spend another six months reviewing processes, procedures and necessary programs. Getting a quality certificate is the easier part – the hardest part is consistently passing it all the time. I am proud that we are succeeding in this," the quality manager shared her advice for those who want to be certified.
