Background
For more than 100 years, Maesteg-based Talgarth Bakery has been producing fresh cakes, breads, pies and pastries for the people of South Wales. The company supplies all sectors, including shops, cafes, sandwich bars, restaurants and supermarkets.
ZERO2FIVE has been providing Talgarth Bakery with technical support for a number of years and in 2022 they recruited a technical affiliate through the Project HELIX Knowledge Transfer Programme to help them embed more robust food safety management systems into the operation.
The Project HELIX Knowledge Transfer Programme employs part-funded technical or sales and marketing affiliates and fully integrates them within Welsh food and drink manufacturers for at least a year with full support from the ZERO2FIVE team. The programme helps companies grow their technical or commercial capability whilst also offering training and mentoring to the affiliates.
Support from ZERO2FIVE
In summer 2023, Talgarth Bakery decided that in order to grow their business, they would need to work towards securing SALSA food safety certification for both their bakery and savoury production units. The SALSA standard is important to many manufacturers as it demonstrates that they are operating to industry-recognised food safety standards and it enables them to supply their products to national and regional retailers.
Working alongside the affiliate and production team, the technical experts at ZERO2FIVE conducted a review of Talgarth Bakery’s existing policies and procedures against the requirements of the new Issue 6 of the SALSA standard. This provided the site management team with a gap analysis and a clear picture of the level of operations compliance with SALSA requirements, which the team developed into a site action plan.
On a weekly basis, ZERO2FIVE mentored the technical affiliate to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding, providing them with bespoke, work based practical actions to deliver against the requirements of the SALSA standard and the site action plan. Topics and actions covered included environmental monitoring, listeria swab planning, equipment calibration, allergen management, traceability, site security, and product distribution. The affiliate was able to contact the team at ZERO2FIVE at any time for help and support with implementing the action plan.
Benefits of the support
Both Talgarth Bakery’s bakery and savoury production units were audited in April 2024 and the company successfully secured SALSA certification. By gaining SALSA certification, Talgarth Bakery will be able to gain access to new markets.
Talgarth Bakery’s technical affiliate had previously worked in customer service and as a result of participating in the Project HELIX Knowledge Transfer Programme, they have been able to forge a new career in food safety, an area in which there is a skills shortage in Wales. The affiliate remains with Talgarth Bakery and will continue to help the company to maintain their SALSA food safety certification whilst further developing their skills and knowledge of food safety management and compliance.
Howard Hughes, Managing Director, Talgarth Bakery: “ZERO2FIVE’S help and involvement with their knowledge and training of our employees and affiliate has been invaluable to the business. Their support has helped us to secure SALSA certification, ensuring our commitment to producing safe food and attaining growth.”
