10 August 2026
We are delighted to announce that J L Priestley & Co Ltd has achieved an AA Grade against the BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 9.
For a business operating within the food ingredients sector, robust food safety and quality systems are of the utmost importance. Our latest BRCGS result provides independent recognition of the standards we maintain across our operations, and the care we take in supplying ingredients to our customers.
It is an achievement we are proud of, and one that reflects our ongoing commitment to maintaining these standards.
BRCGS certification is an important part of the food industry’s approach to managing food safety and supply chain risk. The Global Standard for Food Safety provides a rigorous framework covering areas including food safety management, hazard analysis, traceability, product and process controls, site standards, hygiene, product authenticity and continual improvement.
The standard is recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and is widely used across the food manufacturing and ingredient supply chain.
For ingredient suppliers such as ourselves, certification provides customers with independent assurance that our systems and processes have been assessed against an internationally recognised standard by an external certification body.
Our latest audit was conducted by SAI Global Certification Services Pty. Ltd. (Intertek SAI Global) and resulted in an AA Grade.
BRCGS grading reflects the number and severity of non-conformities identified during an audit. For an announced audit, AA is the highest grade available.
Achieving an AA Grade represents a strong level of conformity with the requirements of the standard at the time of audit.
For us, however, the importance lies in how those standards are maintained throughout the year. Food safety is embedded in our procedures, controls and day-to-day operations.
Our scope covers a broad range of activities, including the cleaning, milling, kibbling and cutting, oven roasting and toasting, blending and re-packing of dehydrated vegetables, pulses, seeds and fruit products. It also covers the warehousing of ambient materials and the trading of dehydrated and freeze-dried food ingredients.
Maintaining these standards across such a broad scope requires consistency and attention to detail at every stage.
When selecting and reviewing suppliers, food manufacturers need confidence in the systems behind the products they purchase. Traceability, product integrity, food safety controls, storage, handling, quality management and risk assessment all contribute to a robust supply chain.
BRCGS certification provides an independently assessed framework against which these areas can be evaluated.
For our customers, this means that J L Priestley & Co Ltd can form part of a strong and appropriately controlled supply chain, with our systems and processes subject to regular independent assessment. It can also support customers’ own supplier approval and due diligence processes, providing recognised third-party assurance.
Achieving a strong audit result is something to be proud of, but maintaining those standards year after year is where the real work lies.
At J L Priestley & Co Ltd, we are guided by our principles of quality, consistency, and attention to detail. Our BRCGS certification is one part of the wider framework that supports this approach.
From sourcing and processing through to packing, warehousing and delivery, we understand the importance of getting the details right.
Our AA Grade is largely a reflection of the people behind our systems and processes.
With several new team members now working at our Heckington factory, achieving such a strong result is particularly pleasing. They have quickly embraced our processes and our approach to quality, and have done an excellent job of putting our principles into practice.
The latest audit is a great reflection of the care and commitment our staff bring to their roles, and we are incredibly proud of the way they have taken ownership of the standards that matter to our business and our customers.
Maintaining BRCGS certification is a collective effort across the business, but this result is a particular credit to the team on site. Seeing existing and new team members confidently delivering to the standards we have established over more than 50 years in business is something we are especially proud of.
We are pleased to have achieved an AA Grade under BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9, and even more proud of the continued commitment, diligence, and hard work that this result reflects.
It is a testament to the people across our business, and the care they take in upholding the standards our customers have come to expect from J L Priestley & Co Ltd.
If you would like to learn more about our processes, production capability or product range, we are here to help. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at hello@jlpriestley.com.
