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FOOD SAFETY
GOOD, FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END
Cleca pays great attention to food safety and environmental issues.
The product quality is one of the main aspects every company looks out for. In order to gain success, a company must:
- Comply with the legislation in force;
- Develop new products in accordance with food safety;
- Maintain high levels of Product Quality;
- Continuously train all staff in the field of food safety culture;
- Provide continuous updating with respect to customer requirements;
- Respond to consumer expectations and pursue product authenticity;
- Comply with the rules and standards applicable to a specific process;
- Maintain high competitiveness levels;
- Promote environmental sustainability.
The CEO of Cleca acknowledges the necessity to show his clients the quality level achieved in the execution of the work entrusted to the company and, as a consequence, he sets as a main goal the capacity of the structure to operate with methodologies of Quality Assurance. For this reason, the plants of San Martino dall’Argine (registered office), Mantova and Bologna apply a certified Quality Management System.
In case extraordinary events cause the impossibility to produce in one of the plants, the other ones will be able to temporarily compensate for the market needs in order to maintain the supply chain of some of the products.
Further objectives are set during the Management Review (made once per year or more, if necessary) to aim for a continuous improvement of the Quality Management System, of the company and of its employees. Such goals will be indicated in the Annual Improvement Plan which is an integral part of the Quality Management System and has to be shared with all human resources involved.
The Quality Manual, and all the connected documentation, constitutes the main instrument of the Quality Management System. It has been defined and maintained through the years in accordance with the business ethics and with the updates of the applied international standards.
The CEO appoints his Representatives (Quality Assurance Manager – QAM), who in compliance with the regulation requirements, have the authority and responsibility to ensure that the requisites of the Manual and of any document applicable in the Quality System are implemented and maintained, in compliance with the delegations stated in the documents (Quality Manual and Procedures). Furthermore, the Management Representative reports to the CEO any divergency found in respect of the Quality Management System. The QAM is also responsible for the Management Systems and HACCP team, for the IFS, BRC and RSPO standards, for Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade in the respective certified plants.
All Cleca’s personnel is responsible for the quality and the implementation of the requisites set in the Quality Manual in each corresponding area and is therefore an active part in the application of the procedures mentioned in the Manual itself and can also suggest improvements. In order to do so, the company is committed to training the personnel to raise awareness and promptly communicate any deviation in respect of food safety. The Management created a box to collect any anonymous reports from the personnel in case of potential violations of the products’ safety, quality and legal compliance. Similarly it has set up a communication system by email with a guarantee of protection of anonymity.
ln order to ensure compliance with mandatory regulations, as well as to encourage updates on new developments and market needs, Cleca invests in the training of its collaborators. Since January 2019 the company has undertaken to develop a strategic plan for the culture of food safety.
Cleca has always been engaged in constantly improving its processes, to meet the highest global standards in our sector. Everything we offer our partners and consumers is certified in every step of the productive process and complies with the most demanding protocols concerning quality and the selection of ingredients and methods used.
OUR QUALITY STANDARDS
BRC (British Retail Consortium): it represents the specific global standard for the safety of agri-food products. The certification aims to ensure that the Suppliers and Sellers belonging to large retailers guarantee the quality and safety of food products they propose to their customers.
IFS: The International Food Standard is a recognised model in Germany and is rapidly spreading in other European Countries. It aims to foster the effective selection of food suppliers to large retailers, based on their ability to supply products that are safe, compliant to contract specifications, and legal requirements. The standard identifies specific elements of a management system focussing on quality and hygiene of products.
ISO 14001: the certification ISO 14001 is recognized worldwide as the reference standard for the Environmental Management System. The companies that obtain such certification show they are committed to continuously improving their environmental performance pursuing the safeguard of the environment, the prevention of pollution and the decrease of energy and resources consumption.
SA8000: certification based on the principles of the 11 ILO conventions, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it means Social Accountability and is the first international standard on social accountability. With this certification, Cleca safeguards people and their work, in every aspect, and requests that its Suppliers comply with the same rules.
GLUTEN-FREE FOOD, DISTRIBUTABLE PRODUCT: Cleca obtained the Authorization by the Ministry of Health to produce and package products that are specifically formulated for customers with gluten intolerance, and therefore to place the green label for gluten-free products. Green label products are regulated by Legislative Decree No 111/92, and their cost is refundable.
CE MARK: Community recognition issued by the veterinary department of the Regions involved, given to the premises where products of animal origin are produced and marketed, under REG. 853/CE/2004. Cleca obtained the recognition number B106Z.
FDA: Cleca is accredited and registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates food and pharmaceutical products sold in the USA, to export products packaged in Italy to the U.S.
CERTIFICATION FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTS: Cleca has been possessing this certification for years, since it has been following the production standards for organic products as regulated by EU Regulation N.848/2018. The ingredients we use for our organic products come from a different agricultural conception, in harmony with the environment and the needs of man. A natural production, which rejects the use of GMOs and chemical pesticides.
CERTIFICATION FOR VEGAN PRODUCTS: a certification on a voluntary basis, which aims to guarantee to consumers the absence of any substance of animal origin.
RSPO: Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification - Segregate guarantees consumers that the palm oil used is certified as sustainable and traceable along the whole supply chain, starting from plantation.
RAINFOREST ALLIANCE: global certification program that defines social and environmental standards in agricultural production of coffee, cocoa and tea. Companies that use this certification can guarantee their customers that the supply of coffee, cocoa and tea comes from responsible agricultural productions. This quality standard represents an opportunity for Cleca to be an active part of a continuous improvement system aimed at safeguard of environment and socio-economic conditions of involved subjects. For these reasons, Cleca makes use of this standard for the production of RA certified cocoa-based products.
FAIRTRADE SOURCING COCOA: we buy Fairtrade cocoa from supply chains controlled for compliance with high social and environmental standards. Our partnership with Fairtrade creates the conditions for farmers to have a better standard of living and the tools to plan for the long term. This means more stable supply chains, solid business relationships and a more sustainable cocoa industry in general.
LEGALITY RATING: the legality rating is a summary indicator of companies' compliance with high standards of legality, issued by the Competition Guarantor Authority.
CARBON NEUTRAL: Cleca conducted the evaluation of its CO2 emissions by calculating the carbon footprint, an index of companies' environmental sustainability. The Bronze brand confirms our commitment to carbon neutrality, aimed at constantly improving environmental performance, reducing emissions in a concrete and measurable way.
RATING ECOVADIS: one of the most accredited recognitions in the international sustainability rating, Ecovadis is the external system that our company has adopted to monitor sustainability performance and propose improvement plans on respect for the environment, human rights, ethics and of sustainable sourcing.