Meantime Brewing Company have been handpicked by SALSA, the UK’s leading food safety certification scheme, as the first craft brewer in the UK to pilot the newly launched SALSA Beer Module.
The new module, which launched on 30 June, known as SALSA plus Beer, has been devised in conjunction with Cask Marque experts and has been incorporated into the existing SALSA standard. This further facilitates the delivery of a robust safety and quality audit for craft brewers and bottlers throughout the UK.
The decision to work with Meantime as the pilot craft brewer for the scheme was based on their position as the UK category leader – offering SALSA a unique perspective on the current and future standards within the industry with regard to craft.
Importance of quality and consistency
Ciaran Giblin, Innovation and Quality Systems Manager at Meantime says: “As the category leader in the UK, we feel a very real responsibility to emphasise the importance of quality and consistency and urge other brewers to do so too. The time is right for the launch of SALSA plus Beer and we’re delighted to play a key role in helping further develop industry standards”.
Although having just launched, support from retail buyers within the industry is already growing, with Waitrose and Mitchell’s and Butlers showing firm interest in the new SALSA plus Beer audit.
Sally Ball, SALSA Scheme Manager says: ‘We’ve been aware for some time that this sector needed a dedicated Standard and the results of the pilot are so positive. We hope other small breweries will take full advantage of the strong support structure offered by SALSA to see them through SALSA plus Beer which will help to raise standards, saleability and their market profile. It can be difficult for small breweries to establish themselves in a jostling marketplace but happily there always seems to be room for one more!’
SALSA is a food safety certification scheme for small producers. For more information about SALSA click here