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Sushi Ingredients Supplier Receives BRCGS AA Rating
Culimer USA has achieved, for the third year in a row, a grade of AA with no nonconformances on the BRCGS Agents & Brokers v3 certification audit.
This is a remarkable achievement for this company best known for supplying clean, all-natural, sustainable, and traceable sushi ingredients for large operator retail sushi programs. Culimer USA specializes in super frozen products (-76°F) such as MSC-certified tuna, albacore and skipjack, ASC-certified hamachi, kanpachi, and other best-in-class sushi ingredients sourced from around the world.
“We work in high-risk RTE foods, and the certification verifies the robustness of our food safety programs,” said Renee Perry, Culimer USA Vice President CSR & ESG. “We embrace a company-wide food safety culture. The company’s food safety team is made up of cross functional team members from commercial, operational, and food safety departments that creates a strong food safety culture at all levels. These are key members to our successful GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) program. We are proud of achieving AA rating and will continue to be a trusted source of safe food products.”
“We work in high-risk RTE foods and the certification verifies the robustness of our food safety programs,” said Renee Perry, Culimer USA Vice President QA, Food Safety & Compliance.
Yoshiki Haibara, Director of Special Projects for Culimer USA explained, “Just a few short years ago, GFSI was not well known across Japan. Producers felt production safety and sanitation standards were naturally of a high standard because of the country’s history in the sushi industry. However, today, most of our Japanese suppliers have now become GFSI-certified through our guidance and support and education on the many benefits for both customers and producers.”
“The larger the operator, the greater the importance of risk management. Our sushi operator clients depend on us to deliver high-quality ingredients whilst proactively protecting them from risks, including food safety, legality, and fair labor practices,” said Higini Hernandez, Culimer USA’s Director of Business Development.
Nadia Narine, CEO of Lumar Food Safety Services Ltd. Consultants and BRCGS auditor explained, “It was a pleasure working with Culimer USA. The team works interdepartmentally to ensure the success of their program. They are keen to learn. They also constantly implement and upgrade the programs needed to ensure quality, safe, and legal products, thus demonstrating their ongoing continued commitment to the BRCGS standard.”
About the BRCGS
The BRC Global Standard (BRCGS) is a GFSI-benchmarked standard and a leading brand and consumer protection organization. It’s used by over 29,000 certified suppliers in over 130 countries, with certification issued through a global network of accredited certification bodies. The BRCGS was the first standard in the world approved by the GFSI-benchmark committee. The BRC Global Standards are commonly considered a fundamental requirement by leading retailers and food processors in Europe and North America.
About Culimer USA
Culimer USA is a leading resource for sushi programs that aims to be all-natural, sustainable, traceable, and ethically sourced. Working with sushi operators, supermarkets, restaurant groups, and other food management companies, Culimer’s mission is to Enrich Society Through Food by continuously raising the standards of retail sushi until they are equal to those in Japan. Culimer achieves this by matching best-in-class producers with operators that desire to have the best programs in the US.