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Supplier assurance · UK & Europe

Second-party supplier audits across the UK and Europe.

Independent food safety audits of your suppliers, on behalf of manufacturers, brand owners and food service businesses, carried out by a registered BRCGS auditor who knows what good looks like on a supplier’s floor.

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Supply chain assurance

Your suppliers are part of your food safety system.

Supplier audits identify risks and gaps across the supply chain, and offer real brand protection for sites and their partners. Many businesses put real effort into certifying their own site, then rely on a certificate and a questionnaire for the suppliers feeding into it.

Using an experienced, ISO and BRCGS Lead Auditor-trained auditor meets BRCGS requirements where a site’s own risk assessment determines that supplier audits are needed. They are especially important where product claims are involved — gluten-free or ready-to-eat, for example — so your supplier base is fully validated.

What you get

Supplier approval you can stand behind.

An independent audit gives you evidence, not assumptions, about the suppliers your products and your brand depend on.

  • Audits against your own supplier standard, a customer code of practice or the relevant BRCGS standard
  • A risk-based focus on what matters most, such as allergen control, gluten-free and ready-to-eat claims
  • On-site audits across the UK and Europe, with remote document reviews where appropriate
  • Clear, graded reports with evidence you can rely on for supplier approval decisions
  • Follow-up on corrective actions so findings are actually closed out
Who’s behind it

Andy Burne, registered BRCGS auditor.

Nearly three decades in the food industry, carrying out subcontract audits for leading certification bodies since 2009. Practical, on-the-floor experience — not just a checklist.

"The value of an audit is not simply finding what is wrong. It is helping a business understand what needs to change — and why."

Common questions

Second-Party Supplier Audits, answered.

When does BRCGS expect supplier audits?

BRCGS requires a risk-based supplier approval process. Where your risk assessment identifies a supplier or raw material as higher risk, an audit is one of the most effective ways to approve and monitor them, particularly for products carrying claims such as gluten-free.

Can you audit against our own supplier standard?

Yes. Audits can be carried out against your own supplier requirements, a customer code of practice, the relevant BRCGS standard, or a combination of these.

Do you audit suppliers outside the UK?

Yes. On-site supplier audits are carried out across the UK and Europe, with remote reviews of systems and documentation where an on-site visit is not needed.

Who carries out the audits?

Andy Burne, founder of Global Food Consultancy and a registered BRCGS auditor who also carries out subcontract certification audits for leading certification bodies.

Want independent assurance on your supplier base?

Arrange a consultation