Dianna Blake-Bennett, general manager at Salada Foods Jamaica.
Boosted by a 98 per cent rating in a recent global food safety audit, Salada Foods has reaffirmed its position as the contract manufacturer of choice for the production of coffee products, instant powders and teas in North America and the Caribbean.
The Kingston-based coffee processor received the 98 per cent score in the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Food Safety Audit Edition 8.1 - a globally recognised food safety initiative.
Salada Foods has been in the coffee processing business since 1958. It is the only Instant Coffee Plant in the Caribbean and supplies a full complement of Jamaican coffee in roasted and ground, roasted whole beans and soluble coffee (instants). The company also manufactures instant/crystallized powders/teas.
This recent rating in the Safe Quality Food (SQF) audit reaffirms Salada Foods position as the manufacturer of choice in the Caribbean and North America,” stated Dianna Blake-Bennett, general manager at Salada Foods Jamaica.
“We provide a turn-key solution that allows our customers to locally manufacture and package their brand offerings according to their unique formulations,” Blake-Bennett added.
The SQF Program is recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and links primary production certification to food manufacturing, distribution and agent/broker management certification.
Salada Foods’ manufacturing facility occupies a six-acre site with offices, coffee manufacturing, extraction, spray drying, warehouses and quality control, including five Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) plans.
“Our facility is over 60 years old but is well taken care of and is continually updated with new technology while maintaining historic coffee roasting, grinding, spray drying processes to supply customers with high quality, and safe products,” Group Operations Manager at Salada Foods, Lorna Lewis stated.
Salada’s facility equipment includes a spray dryer, horizontal form filled packaging machines, vertical form fill sealer, roasters and grinders. There is also a one-acre site that is open for future expansion.
The company employs 120 staff members, of which over 80% are from Trench Town and its environs.
"The auditor interviewed several manufacturing staff members and was impressed with their knowledge of food safety,” Blake-Bennett revealed.
A training register has been developed for each department, showing the member- training requirements; training conducted and sign-off for the employee, trainer, and supervisor.
“This enables the quick review of any staff member who may have missed required training and can be re-scheduled,” Blake-Bennett noted.