More choice means more food safety challenges for grocery industry and food retailers

Throughout the UK and Ireland food retailers, brands and service providers consistently strive towards the highest standards when it comes to the food products and services they provide on a daily basis. The grocery trade here is characterised not only by a level of service second to none, but also by the care and attention paid to the quality of food delivered to every customer at every interaction.  

This doesn’t happen by chance. Food retailers must invest time, effort and earnings on regulatory compliance, training, audits and inspections to ensure that they meet food safety requirements. safefood’s latest research has shown that this is very much front of mind for many food businesses. Their research has found that just under half of all small food businesses surveyed (45%) claimed that ‘food safety and ensuring compliance with regulations’ is their top priority. But almost two-thirds (64%) said they are extremely concerned about the impact of a poor food safety audit or enforcement on their business.  

This should be no surprise in a sector dominated by such high standards, but the concern is reflective of an environment that is growing in terms of greater demands. Today’s customers have higher expectations with more diverse dietary needs and a wider range of health and lifestyle preferences. In food retail increasing competitiveness, higher costs, and labour shortages all merge to present a multitude of challenges for management.  

Savvy store managers will be familiar with various tools of digital transformation that help to improve store efficiencies. One tool however that addresses these multiple challenges while maintaining compliance and food safety standards is digital HACCP.  

Whether across one or many stores, a digital HACCP system saves store managers and food handlers time by automating what are otherwise time-consuming, manual processes. A robust digital HACCP system uses a wireless temperature monitoring system to significantly reduce the time staff spend recording temperatures and completed food safety tasks.  

The system removes the need for paper folders and manual paper records and eliminates the risk of stock loss due to fridge or freezer temperature excursions using automated real-time alerts via SMS, email or voice message. Such a system will also make audits and inspections easier, as data and records are available at one touch using a touchscreen device.  

For operations across multiple locations, this is particularly useful for management to remotely access live or historical records for any store. Companies such as Kelsius (www.kelsius.com) deliver digital HACCP systems to food retailers large and small and can customise a system to suit the size and needs of any retailer.  

The food sector is constantly changing and growing. Store managers who look to grow their business should look to technologies such as digital HACCP to ensure that as their operations grow, they can rest assured that this is not at the cost of maintaining high levels of compliance and excellence in customer service.

Click here to learn how wireless temperature monitoring can help your food retail business.

Food safety for your new small business

Kelsius food safety for new food businesses

Thinking of opening a food business? Make sure you’re HACCP compliant to protect your clients and your reputation right from the start.

What is HACCP?

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a systematic approach to identifying, evaluating, and controlling food safety hazards. As a food service owner it’s vital to understand HACCP principles and implement the required regulations across business operations constantly and consistently. This includes conducting a hazard analysis, establishing critical control points, setting critical limits, implementing monitoring procedures, and maintaining proper record-keeping. By adhering to HACCP guidelines, you can proactively prevent and address potential risks in your food business processes; protecting you, your reputation and your customers’ well-being.

Local compliance

Regardless of the scale of your business or your market location, you must ensure that you comply with all local food safety regulations. While there are universal standards and guidelines, contact the food safety regulator for your market for information and advice on the regulations regarding food handling, food storage, hygiene practices and labelling. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the agency responsible for the system that regulate food businesses in the UK. In Ireland the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) provides new businesses with a comprehensive range of information on how to achieve good hygiene standards and how to comply with the law.

Make food safety your number one priority

The best way to ensure consistent adherence to food safety regulations is to instil among staff from the start that food safety is their number one priority at every stage of the food supply and delivery process. Management and staff responsible for the business’s HACCP system must undertake adequate training in the application of HACCP principles. All food handlers must be instructed on food safety and hygiene and should be trained based on the level of activity they are involved in. Companies such as Kelsius can help in the delivery of food safety training for your staff.

Set the standard

Consistency is key when it comes to food safetyKelsius FoodCheck 2.0 for new food businesses management. Processes that can help you adhere to the regulations include standardising your products, developing comprehensive and easy-to-understand processes, applying consistent quality control measures, and always using reliable suppliers who you can trust to provide quality ingredients and products. This makes it easier for you to implement a robust traceability system should you need to quickly identify and recall any potentially contaminated products.

Protecting your brand

Successful food businesses are as much about the service provided as they are about the food, and good service leads to a trusted brand that customers will come back for again and again.

Use technology to help you save time and money on meeting food safety regulations – time and money that you can redirect to providing a high level of customer service and developing a product range that your customers will love. Get the balance right for your customers, your reputation and your business, and you’ll have the right ingredients for long-term success.

Want to learn more? Click here to find out about FoodCheck 2.0 from Kelsius – a digital HACCP system that provides wireless temperature monitoring, traceability, checklists and more for food businesses large and small.

Kelsius helps Tesco Ireland reduce food waste

Falcarragh, Co. Donegal, 9 May 2023 – Irish technology company Kelsius, based in Falcarragh, Co Donegal has signed a contract with Tesco Ireland to help the retailer ensure efficiencies across some of its cold storage.

Kelsius’ wireless temperature monitoring systems monitor the temperature of standalone fridges, freezers 24 hours a day. This allows Tesco to ensure that it only provides the finest quality foods to its customers by ensuring that fridges and freezers are maintained at the correct temperature.

The Kelsius system alerts the retailer to any temperature excursions, thus eliminating food waste that can occur due to fridge or freezer failure.

The agreement between Kelsius and Tesco will see the technology introduced across 112 Tesco stores.

Tesco has led the way amongst retailers in Ireland, in eliminating food waste and driving sustainable retailing. Kelsius’ technology ensures that no food is wasted and eliminates CO2 emissions from that waste.

Kelsius employs 82 people and manufactures specialist temperature monitoring equipment and software and provides global customer support from Falcarragh.

Kelsius CEO Karl Simmons said, “Our collaboration with Tesco is an excellent fit for the Kelsius system. An operation of Tesco’s size requires a robust, scalable, user-friendly system that suits the needs of the business, and Kelsius provides this. Kelsius’ environmental values are also aligned with those of Tesco. We are delighted that we can help Tesco achieve its food waste reduction target. We congratulate Tesco on their achievements in this regard to date, and we look forward to continuing to work with them.”

Commenting on the partnership, Tesco Central Compliance Manager John Byrne said, “The Kelsius system provides Tesco not only with the peace of mind to have constant and reliable temperature monitoring, but also with the ability to ensure food quality and further reduce food waste. We are delighted to partner with them in using their technology and in a way which helps us to play our part in the community and for the benefit of our customers and the environment.”

About Kelsius     

Kelsius is the leading supplier of automation technology for product safety and compliance to the food services and healthcare industries. Using its world-class wireless sensor technology and cloud-based data hosting and processing, Kelsius systems improve product safety, ensure regulatory compliance and optimise costs associated with these activities. Founded in 2003, Kelsius has offices in Ireland and the United Kingdom with a network of partners in Europe, Middle East, Australia and the USA that serve its global customer base. Visit www.kelsius.com

 

Food Safety – Protecting Your Bottom Line

Food safety has become increasingly important and over the last decade has become a sub-industry of the food service industry.

The importance of food safety does not just affect your immediate income. If a food safety outbreak occurred on your premises if would have a negative impact on the long term public perception of your brand. It can be very difficult to recover from an association of food poisoning. Each Food Service outlet has a responsibility, not only to their customers, but to their brand and employees to ensure the highest standards are maintained, as the consequences can impact a great number of people. People’s health, first and foremost is at risk, and needs to be protected. But employment and income can also be affected by the fallout from a food poisoning outbreak.

Today we outline the essential dos and don’ts for complete compliance.

Don’t

  • Keep it in your head – This is a recipe for disaster. It is impossible to properly communicate your plan to your staff without a documented plan.
  • Leave anything to chance – Fail to prepare. Prepare to fail. Ensuring the safety of the product you provide helps ensure the safety of your business.
  • Allow standards to drop – Avoid stepping on the slippery slope. Slacking on standards in one area will always lead slacking in other areas.
  • Make Excuses – The buck stops with you. Playing innocent will not work in this day and age. It’s your business, protect it.
  • Cut corners – The risk of closure and/or negative publicity far outweighs the short term gains to be made. Best practice must be followed by all staff.

Do

  • Have a Documented Plan – Ensure your HACCP plan is recorded and staff are fully trained according to the plan. Copies should be available to staff.
  • Keep Records – It is imperative that all daily, weekly and monthly actions and tasks are catalogued. This allows for transparent compliance.
  • Monitor Temperature – Temperatures should be checked regularly whether it be fridges, freezers, food being cooked or cooked food in hot holding.
  • Constant Vigilance – Staff need to be trained and fully aware of all food safety hazards and know how to prevent all types of cross contamination.
  • Wash Hands – It’s a simple activity but is vital in the fight to prevent the spread of food borne illnesses. The more the better!

Food Safety experts Kelsius, can help your business protect against some of the dangers and implement the essential actions as outlined above. FoodCheck, by Kelsius, is an automated HACCP Management system using tablet based technology, the first of its kind on the market anywhere in the world.

With your company’s reputation and more significantly your income at stake, can you really afford to take a risk?

Kelsius wins Best Foodservice Technology

Kelsius wins Best Foodservice Technology – Back of House Award at the 2021 IFSA’s

The theme of this year’s IFSA Awards was based around sustainability. After being shortlisted to the final 4 out of the total 18 nominees.

Kelsius went on to win the award after presenting a Dragons Den styled presentation.

The environmental benefits of using an automated system for temperature monitoring was presented to the panel of judges Maurice Bergin, Brian Walsh, Keith Waren, Tony McGuigan, Guillaume Oates and Seán Graham.
Some of the key facts mentioned included how the average food business must have 1 tree worth of paper, 10,000 sheets in storage to be legally HACCP compliant. As well at this each sheet taking 6-9 years to fully decompose.
This is where FoodCheck 2.0 helps businesses in the food industry cut down on their paper waste and take a sustainable approach to business.

The Solution:

Kelsius removes paper from your temperature monitoring routines therefore greatly reduces waste levels from your entire business.

All sectors across Food and Life Sciences Industries depend on temperature monitoring to accurately monitor stock and products and with FoodCheck 2.0, this is done sustainably without the use of pen and paper.

We are delighted to have won such a great award, and we would like to congratulate everybody who took part and the winners of all other categories. We’d like to thank the IFSA for hosting the awards and giving businesses like Kelsius a platform to showcase their products and services, and we would like to extend this thanks to the judging panel too.

Finally and most importantly, Kelsius would like to thank each and every employee for their hard work and dedication. This award is the accumulation of the effort of each and every staff member across all our departments. Thank you all and we hope you will join us in celebrating this award.

Why Go Digital?

Why move to an automated wireless temperature monitoring system?

Many businesses have made the switch from traditional, manual temperature checks to an automated system that removes pen and paper from their safety management system, but why? Not only does manually checking and logging temperatures take up valuable hours, it also doesn’t guarantee reliable and consistent results. Manual temperature checks often only happen once a day due to time constraints and therefore, the true temperature of storage areas are not always being monitored correctly.

 

What are the main reasons for replacing manual checks with a system like Kelsius?

In a poll we conducted on LinkedIn, 60% of respondents said the reason they moved to an automated temperature monitoring system was due to the time and cost saving benefits it creates compared to manual pen and paper checks. 20% said their motivation was for Readily Available Data Records while another 20% said it was due to Covid-19.

The pandemic had heightened awareness about hygiene and cleanliness, and it has been a factor in why some businesses made the decision to move from manual to automated systems. The removal of pen and paper is a more sustainable and hygienic solution to temperature monitoring, and is a lot easier to manage too.

What Kelsius can do for you:

Choosing an automated system is the modern and simple solution to temperature monitoring. When you choose CoolCheck or FoodCheck2.0, you also have the Kelsius support team available to assist should any problems occur.

Your temperature checks are logged onto our online portal which is accessible by logging into the Kelsius portal on any device and this information is available to you 24/7.

Depending on your requirements, routine hygiene tasks are also logged which reassures staff is taking corrective measures and protocols on personal hygiene and sanitary stations.

Our system is active in thousands of sites globally across food industries and life sciences such as hotels, restaurants, QSR, food retail, vaccine centres, hospitals, pharmaceuticals and many more.

We work closely with businesses in providing reliable automated solutions making our customers’ lives easier by saving them time and money normally spent on manual checks, and we offer full support throughout the entire customer relationship journey.

Scott Harrington, Manager, Apache Pizza Ballyvolane

The Kelsius FoodCheck system has been a revelation since we implemented them in our 5 stores in Cork City. It has made our HACCP records much easier, faster and more consistent across all our stores.

Conor Campbell, Fresh Food Development Manager, Centra The Phoenix

The great advantage of the system is that is it easy to use but still provides us with the assurance that the key paperwork required for best in class food safety management is being completed. Records can be checked at any time of the day from your phone and the sign off process is simple and effective.

Conor Watson, Store Owner, Centra Cloughey

It has provided cost saving solutions by saving 1 hour per day that was normally spent on manual temperature checking and regulating. The FoodCheck system installed here has made HACCP compliance and audit preparation much easier. Our staff find this paperless system more reliable and accessible than before.

Tom Murray, Managing Director, Murray Pharmacies

Professional standards are raised using this system and it offers great peace of mind knowing my fridges and stock are being continuously monitored. This helps protect my business as I know all stock is maintained within correct temperature thresholds or else I will be alerted.

The FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety

How Kelsius and the FoodCheck system align with The FDA’s recent findings.

Reliable Temperature Monitoring means a Safer Food System

The U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) have released a blueprint outlining an approach that will be taken over the next decade to create a safer food system for all consumers. Due to the effect the pandemic has had on consumer behaviours; they believe that modern approaches are required for these modern times.

Their Goal

The FDA’s end goal is to trace the origins of contaminated food to its source in minutes and/or seconds, so when public health is at risk their response is as instant as possible. To achieve this, real-time and data-driven approaches will be taken to fulfil the FDA’s aim of creating end-to-end traceability throughout the food safety system. They have acknowledged that to be successful, all levels of the food supply chain must join together including technology firms and food regulators.

Our Contribution

Kelsius have been market leaders in the food safety industry for 18 years and are proud to be supplying some of the biggest food producing companies with our real-time temperature monitoring system not only in Ireland, but across the UK and worldwide.

The Kelsius FoodCheck system has a built-in feature where a selected member of staff receives an instant alert if there has been a sudden change in temperature. These alerts can be sent via SMS, email or a visual alarm. Often, basic human error can result in a fridge or freezer being left open or incorrectly shut. FoodCheck, our paperless HACCP system, ensures these mistakes can be resolved in time to prevent product contamination and loss of produce.

Shared Values

The FDA hopes to create a safer food system to improve the quality of life for consumers globally, a core value that is also shared among the Kelsius team. We are committed to producing high standard, fully automated systems to our customers to give them peace of mind that their produce is safe for customers.

Read full article: https://www.fda.gov/food/new-era-smarter-food-safety

“Records are easily and securely accessed for each location and the reporting is what really sets the system apart. This makes life much easier for a HACCP audit or inspection.”

William Day, IT Director, Five Guys UK

“We have Kelsius Food Safety System installed in the store now for a number of years, and to be quite honest, I couldn’t imagine the food safety system working without it.”

Mary McGroarty, Centra Rochestown

Home Delivery Temperature Monitoring and Recording

Covid-19 has changed the landscape of how we do Business. Online Shopping and Home Deliveries have increased between 200% and 300% depending on the sector.

With this change, many grocery and food delivery providers are now required to monitor and record the temperature of the Goods being transported, both when leaving the store and again at delivery, to be complaint.

Aside from Complaince, this provides Owners and Managers with a tracable record to ensure the Produce they are delivering is safe and of the highest quality.

This option can be purchased as a stand alone option or as part of the entire Kelsius offering.

Kelsius can offer a further range of effective measures to assist you as your business adapts to the current situation:

  • Record Cleaning Tasks, Hygiene and Sanitizer Checks
  • Reminders to Prompt Staff to carry out Important Cleaning and Hygiene Tasks
  • Keep a log of Employees Handwashing
  • Reminders to Prompt Staff to wash their hands at regular and pre-determined times
  • Access to HSE Handwashing Video

I would like to speak to someone about this Solution.

You can also add the newly Developed Temperature Recording of Staff to your system.

If you have any questions or want to find out more click on the link below or email sales@kelsius.com.

See FoodCheck in Action. Save time and money.

FoodCheck can save you time and money.

FoodCheck Digital HACCP system is installed in over 600 Food Service Outlets throughout Irleand and the UK.

See how the system can fit seamlessly into your operation.

Our Customers experience the many benefits FoodCheck offers including:

  • 24/7 Temperature Monitoring
  • Protect your brand
  • Save money
  • Remove Paper
  • Reduce risk of non-compliance
  • Remove risk of Stock Loss

How FoodCheck works:

Don’t just take our word for it:

“FoodCheck has been invaluable since we installed it. As well as the obvious benefits of removing paper and improving standards, the system saves my business at least 10 hours per week in labour time.

The alert system has helped me save valuable stock on a number of occasions.”

Thomas Ennis, Spar Lower Baggot Street, Dublin

“We have FoodCheck for a few years now. The greatest benefit by far that I have found is that it frees up between 15-20 hours a week for my staff. Roughly 10 hours for my floor staff and 7 for my deli. This equates to a saving of €120 per week. This also means my staff are free to clean and stock and serve my customers. It is like having an extra member of staff for each half day. The system has served me very well and my health inspector is very happy with it. I get text Alerts if there is an issue with my fridges and freezers so I can protect against stock loss- it is like an extra insurance. FoodCheck’s bottom line is that if offers me peace of mind as well as saves me money.”

Liam Glynn, Centra Carnmore, Galway

COSMO Authentic World Kitchen FoodCheck Case Study

Download the PDF Case Study here.
https://www.kelsius.com/news-blog/media/Cosmo.pdf
Background
Launched in 2003, COSMO have now grown to have 19 restaurants across UK and Ireland. COSMO Authentic World Kitchen is inspired by the best five-star hotels in the world, which bring a choice of fresh food under the same roof and elevate the buffet concept to new levels. Teppanyaki experts grill steaks and fresh seafood right in front of your eyes and chefs lay on a never-ending array of dishes.
Challenge Facing Store Owner
COSMO were looking for a system that would satisfy their Primary Authority Partnership at Reading. The system needed to be fully compliant with their current Food Safety regulations. Critically, it needed to be able to provide labour savings against manual checks that were being carried out and they wanted to eradicate paperwork piling up. The business also wanted to be able to have visibility of what was happening across the whole business, before EHO visits, so that they could be proactive to ensure standards were being achieved.
With a diverse demographic of employees from different regions of the world the system had to be very user friendly.

FoodCheck Paperless HACCP System
The Kelsius HACCP solution is a fully automated, paperless system which ensures full compliance with statutory food safety requirements. Kelsius wireless temperature sensors monitor and record temperatures in all refrigerated areas and freezers. If a measured temperature rises above a set limit, an alert is triggered. This alert can be transmitted as a text message, email and via local visual alarms.
In addition to continuous temperature recording the Kelsius system also provides time and task management by recording key activities such as deliveries, cleaning tasks, hot & cold food probing and deli traceability. All records are securely stored on the Kelsius website and each retailer can access their records at any time from any Web-enabled PC or laptop. HACCP reports can also be automatically emailed as required.
Find out more about FoodCheck

COSMO Strategic Partnership with Kelsius
An alternative system was trialled at one of the branches but failed to meet their requirements. Following on from this it was decided to trial the FoodCheck paperless HACCP system by Kelsius.
Following an extensive trial of FoodCheck at the Nottingham branch a further 2 restaurants in Dublin and Southampton were implemented. Over the next 3 months and through regular consultation Kelsius continued to work with COSMO to ensure that the systems functionalities were all being utilised.
Finally an agreement was made to award Kelsius the contract to provide our FoodCheck system across the Group. The Kelsius FoodCheck system is now installed in all locations as well as the production kitchen in Milton Keynes and has provided many benefits and savings to the business.

Conclusion
FoodCheck ensured COSMO were fully compliant with all Food Safety Regulations and more than satisfied the Primary Authority Partnership at Reading.
COSMO experienced substantial labour savings when eliminating manual unit checks, HACCP administration and Audit preparation.
FoodCheck helped COMSO to eradicate vast amounts of paperwork.
All information recorded on the system is stored using Cloud Technology allowing Senior Management to access HACCP records remotely and easily to ensure standards were being achieved.
FoodCheck’s easy-to-use interface and the comprehensive training delivered by Kelsius ensured all staff are proficient in the use of the system.

“We have the Kelsius FoodCheck HACCP system in operation in all our restaurants throughout the UK and Ireland. We have found the system invaluable in assisting us in implementing our Food Safety plan.
It is so easy for staff to use and for management to access and review records.
We can access records from all Restaurants remotely allowing for greater visibility and the Group Usage Reports are fantastic.
Comso restaurants have an average score of 4.92 out of 5 among participating Restaurants in the Scores on the Doors Scheme with all the Restaurants in Scotland achieving the top grade. Kelsius has been instrumental in helping us reach this level.”
Thomas Pawlowski, Head of Operations