20 Nov 2009 --- Univar, a leading global company specialising in the sales, marketing, application and safe, efficient handling of a wide range of chemicals and ingredients, announced that it has been awarded the ISO 22000 certification for its South Kirkby food production site in the UK. This is the first Univar production site to receive this recognition.

The Univar South Kirkby site produces citric acid solutions which are used predominantly in the soft drinks industry. The site also has a dedicated glycerine packing facility, a product used both in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Over the past few years, Univar has invested heavily in both its plants and its people, especially in the areas of training and education. Coupled with investments in equipment and infrastructure, the South Kirkby site, as well as the more than 50 Univar distribution centres throughout Europe, is able to meet with the increasing demands of food and pharmaceutical customers throughout the EMEA region.

ISO 22000 is an internationally recognised food safety management system. Based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles, it provides a logical and efficient framework with which food hazards can be identified, controlled and most importantly – prevented. “We now have three ISO 22000 certified sites within the UK and Ireland, and we are proud to announce that South Kirkby is our first food production site to be certified in the British Isles. Several of our sites on mainland Europe also boast local food standard certifications.  Our strategy continues to differentiate us through safety. Many of our customers in the food industry are demanding that we have this specific food safety accreditation. ISO 22000 gives our customers confidence in the safety, quality and reliability of the products that we supply into the food industry,” said Nigel Hayes, General Manager, Univar UK & Ireland.

With an increasing European portfolio of over 2,000 high quality ingredients, Univar provides a range of services as well as natural and functional ingredients and modified and native starches. With these ingredients, Univar can cover the food and beverage requirements for food manufacturers, locally, nationwide and across the rest of Europe. “Univar provides more than just products. We understand what is important to our customers and strive to help them reduce costs through innovation and on-going application development in our specialised food laboratories which will give them a competitive edge towards their own customers,” explains Michel Burla, Univar’s Marketing Manager Food EMEA.