With Kelsius, Conference Aston & Wilson Vale transform food safety culture and go fully digital

Conference Aston is Birmingham’s only residential conference centre, located on the Aston University campus. The venue operates a single kitchen serving hotel guests, delegates and private events. With a focus on delivering high-quality, safe catering experiences, Conference Aston combines hospitality excellence with modern operational management.

Managing food safety across a large hospitality venue with a single kitchen was becoming increasingly complex. Conference Aston relied on paper-based HACCP records, which could be time-consuming, inconsistent and prone to human error or falsification. Chefs used to spend hours photocopying and filing paperwork.

Audits could be slow with record-keeping traceability time-consuming to trace when issues arose. The leadership recognised the need for a modern, digital solution to standardise checks, ensure accuracy, and provide instant access to compliance data across all catering operations.

With the introduction of FoodCheck 2.0 from Kelsius, the Executive Head Chef has been able to tailor the system’s tasks and workflows to match existing operations, adding checks for deliveries, cleaning, and equipment monitoring. The platform’s flexibility allows new tasks, users and schedules to be added instantly, ensuring the system always reflects current operational needs.

Conference Aston and Wilson Vale have transformed their food safety culture by moving from paper to a fully digital, automated process. The team now saves five hours each week, operates more sustainably, and has complete confidence in compliance and traceability. The Kelsius FoodCheck 2.0 system has become integral to daily operations, helping Conference Aston deliver the highest standards of food safety, quality and guest assurance.

 

 

Winter Food Safety Challenges for Food Retail – A Perfect Storm of Risks for Food & Food Safety in Store

Winter is one of the most important and most demanding periods of the year for food retailers. The busy run-up to Christmas brings increased footfall, higher stock turnover, and pressure on teams to deliver consistently high standards. Yet as soon as the festive rush ends, many retailers face a sharp slowdown as customers return to work and take stock of their holiday spending. This seasonal fluctuation alone can place strain on operations, but the real challenge lies in protecting food safety throughout this exceptionally busy and unpredictable period.

Winter often brings a unique combination of complications. A perfect storm of actual storms, freezing temperatures, staff taking extended leave, and the need to hire and train seasonal workers all contribute to a higher likelihood of disruption. Normal routines can be interrupted, roles may need to be covered at short notice, and managers often find themselves stretched thin across multiple tasks and sometimes multiple sites. These pressures create an environment where manual food safety processes quickly become vulnerable.

Manual HACCP systems depend heavily on the availability and consistency of trained staff. When team members cannot reach the store due to extreme weather, when experienced staff take extended holidays, or when seasonal workers are still learning the ropes, essential checks may be delayed or missed altogether. At the busiest time of year, this leaves food at risk and increases the burden on management to maintain oversight.

This is why many retailers are turning to automation to safeguard their operations. Automated wireless temperature monitoring and digital HACCP systems significantly reduce the strain on teams during the winter season. By replacing paper records and manual data collection, digital systems ensure that accurate information is always captured, always available, and always stored securely. Authorised staff can access data and reports from any web-enabled device, removing the need to depend on colleagues who may be off-site or unavailable, and eliminating unnecessary travel in dangerous weather conditions. Systems such as FoodCheck2.0 from Kelsius are designed to be intuitive and quick to learn, meaning permanent, part-time, and seasonal staff can all use them confidently with minimal training.

Winter weather can also cause sudden equipment failures with the onset of extreme cold and freezing temperatures. With FoodCheck2.0, automated alerts notify you immediately when readings fall outside safe limits, allowing fast intervention before stock is compromised.

As winter and the busy Christmas season approaches for food retailers, digital HACCP is essential to manage operations smoothly.

Contact Kelsius today to ensure your food safety processes are winter ready.

Navigating Food Safety Compliance in UK Retail: Challenges and Solutions

Ensuring food safety is a paramount concern for UK food retailers, as it directly impacts consumer health, brand reputation, and regulatory compliance. Navigating the complexities of food safety regulations can be challenging, but with the right tools and systems, retailers can maintain high standards and streamline their operations.

 

Understanding UK Food Safety Regulations 

The UK enforces stringent food safety laws to protect consumers and uphold food quality. Key legislation includes the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, which mandate that businesses ensure food is safe for consumption and meet hygiene standards.  

Retailers are required to implement effective food safety management systems, conduct regular hazard analyses, and maintain detailed records of their processes. Non-compliance can result in severe penalties, including fines, legal action, and damage to brand reputation. 

 

Common Challenges Faced by UK Retailers 
  1. Regulatory Compliance: Keeping abreast of evolving food safety regulations demands continuous monitoring and adaptation. 
  2. Record Keeping: Maintaining accurate and accessible records is essential but can be labour-intensive and prone to human error. 
  3. Supply Chain Management: Ensuring that all suppliers adhere to food safety standards requires diligent oversight and coordination. 
  4. Staff Training: Regular training is necessary to keep staff informed about best practices and regulatory changes, which can be resource intensive. 
  5. Labour Shortages: Retail particularly continues to face the challenge of labour shortages caused in varying degrees by the effects of the pandemic, Brexit and the availability of a flow of a suitable workforce.  
  6. Rising costs: The cost of doing business is significant for UK food retailers who need to consider the price of stock, energy, labour, regulatory compliance, local services and business rates. All while at the same time consumer behaviour continues to shift towards price-driven purchase decisions.  

 

How a Digital HACCP System can Help 

Kelsius offers innovative digital solutions designed to assist UK retailers in overcoming these challenges: 

  • FoodCheck 2.0: This system automates temperature monitoring and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) management, reducing reliance on manual checks and paperwork. It provides real-time data and alerts, ensuring swift responses to potential issues. 
  • CoolCheck: Specialising in wireless temperature monitoring, CoolCheck ensures that all refrigeration units operate within safe parameters, preventing spoilage and ensuring compliance with food safety standards.

Benefits of Implementing Kelsius Systems 

  • Enhanced Compliance: Automated monitoring and record-keeping simplify adherence to regulations and facilitate smoother audits. 
  • Operational Efficiency: Reducing manual tasks allows staff to focus on core business activities, improving overall productivity. 
  • Data-Driven Insights: Access to comprehensive data enables informed decision-making and proactive management of food safety risks. 


Conclusion 

In the dynamic landscape of UK retail, maintaining rigorous food safety standards is both a regulatory requirement and a competitive advantage. Kelsius provides the tools necessary to streamline compliance, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure the highest levels of food safety. 

For more information on how Kelsius can support your business, visit www.kelsius.com. 

 

Sales Team Expansion: Kelsius Ends 2024 on a High Note

sales-team

Kelsius is proud to announce the significant expansion of its sales team as the company prepares for an exciting 2025. This marks another major milestone for the company, a global leader in digital HACCP and wireless temperature monitoring solutions.

Meet the New Sales Team Members

To support its growing presence in key markets, Kelsius has welcomed three new professionals:

  • Shane Austin – Sales Manager, Food Manufacturing
    Shane brings over 20 years of experience in the food industry, having held key account management roles with 2 Sisters Food Group’s poultry division and Tulip/Danish Crown. Over the past decade, he has specialized in cargo food temperature monitoring, gaining deep insights into the challenges faced in all aspects of this field.
  • Charlie Stableford – Sales Manager, Hospitality
    Charlie brings expertise in helping hospitality businesses simplify and digitize their food safety systems. He focuses on practical solutions that streamline daily operations, save time, and reduce stress. Charlie is passionate about building strong client relationships and delivering tools that make a real difference. Outside of work, he enjoys playing football, cooking, and spending time with his family.
  • Matthew Holland – International Partner Manager
    With over 20 years in GPS and IoT solutions, Matthew is a proven expert in real-time supply chain visibility and tracking technologies. As Sales Director at Frigga, he led product launches, managed RFPs, and represented the company at global events. From 2021 to 2022, he introduced Tive’s tracking solution to the UK, working with clients like Rolls Royce and The National Gallery while speaking at industry conferences. In 2010, Matthew developed GPS tracking solutions for clients such as Riot Games, Samsung, and Lindt Chocolate, later merging these ventures with Tive in 2021.
A Strategic Move for Growth

As part of its growth strategy, Kelsius relocated its headquarters to temporary premises in Gweedore Business Park. This transition ensures uninterrupted operations while preparing for the construction of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Falcarragh, Co. Donegal.

The new facility, expected to open in 2026, will boost production capacity, meet rising demand, and maintain Kelsius’ reputation for cutting-edge technology and exceptional customer service.

Architectural drawing Kelsius’ new facility

Leadership Perspective

Mario Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer at Kelsius, commented:

“Shane, Charlie, and Matthew bring unmatched energy and expertise to Kelsius. Their efforts will help food manufacturers, hospitality clients, and international partners achieve operational efficiencies. Alongside our new facility plans, this significant expansion to our sales team strengthens our ability to deliver advanced solutions worldwide.”

Learn More About Kelsius

Kelsius is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance compliance and operational excellence. Our innovative offerings include:

Digital HACCP Solutions

Ensure seamless compliance with food safety standards and regulations, including those outlined by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and FDA guidelines. Our solutions help streamline processes, maintain accurate records, and meet the highest standards of food safety and hygiene.

Wireless Temperature Monitoring

Monitor and manage temperatures in real-time with our advanced wireless technology. Safeguard your operations by ensuring consistent compliance with regulatory req uirements and preventing costly errors while maintaining product integrity at all times.

Learn more about Kelsius’s innovative solutions here.