The companies that source and supply ingredients for private food labels are highly-organized. They import food from all over the world from reliable and reputable growers while maintaining a strict watch on the quality of the crops and the standard of living the growers have access to—all to stay within the stipulated standards and practices of federal food laws.
Regular audits are done to ensure the imported ingredients are only sourced from SA8000 and BSCI approved sites. However, this is not the only service that bulk and wholesale food suppliers do for their customers.
What Is SA8000 And BSCI?
Consumers and the manufacturers who supply products to them are more socially aware than ever before. SA8000 is a certificate of standards that shows an organization is active in developing and maintaining socially-acceptable practices where they obtain the foods they export to other countries.
SA8000 standards have been in force since 1989 and were first implemented by SAI (Social Accountability International). The regular audits run by food importers that operate within these standards ensure the social welfare of the crop growers is of paramount importance. It is similar in practice to ISO standards, but both management systems require the adherents to go beyond basic compliance standards.
The BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) drives social improvements for the farms and growers within the supply chain. Private food labels must have confidence the ingredients sourced for them from overseas are grown in places where these regulations are in effect. That is why one of the most trusted names in bulk and wholesale distribution is Linbro importer of food products for private label.
More Than One Ingredient
Bulk food and ingredient importers have a complicated system of logistics in place that enable them to transport the harvest to the docks, load it onto refrigeration containers, and deliver it to private food label manufacturers in record time. They do this with not just one ingredient, but many different crops from dozens of growers.
This is a lot more complicated than the importers who only deal in supplying one crop, such as coffee. Each batch of ethically sourced foods has to be handled quickly and efficiently to maintain its freshness and integrity. Fair-trade products must never come into contact with a crop from suppliers who do not use such strict standards.
Pricing
Even though the growers are paid a fair-trade price for their crops, the amount the private food label manufacturers pay is still a cost-effective one, because the sustainable farming systems the growers use and the suitable reimbursement they receive means they can yield bigger and more abundant crops.
This is why the producers of high quality and ethical foodstuffs are choosing to use the comestibles supplied by exceptional importers of food products. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because they can say on their labels that the ingredients they use are guaranteed to come with a clear conscience—something customers desire.
