Short answer
On 28 and 29 July 2026 we were audited against the BRCGS Storage & Distribution standard with no notice given, and achieved AA+, the highest grade available. It is the first time we have taken the unannounced route, and it means our systems were judged on an ordinary working day rather than a prepared one.
What unannounced actually means
With a standard BRCGS audit you know the window and you can plan around it. With an unannounced audit you do not: the auditor arrives, and whatever state the warehouse, the paperwork and the team are in on that day is what gets assessed. There is no tidy-up week, no rehearsal, no pulling records together the night before.
We chose that route on purpose. If a standard is worth holding, it should describe how we work every day, not how we work when we are expecting a visitor.
What the grade means
| Grade | What it reflects |
|---|---|
| AA+ | Highest grade, awarded following an unannounced audit |
| AA | Highest grade at an announced audit |
| A to C | Progressively more non-conformities raised |
The plus is only available on the unannounced route, so AA+ is as high as the Storage & Distribution standard goes. For a family run, independently owned supplier of our size, we are quietly proud of it.
What the auditor looked at
- Traceability, from goods-in through storage to despatch.
- Hygiene, housekeeping and pest control across the storage areas.
- Segregation of stock so nothing gets contaminated or mixed up.
- Documented procedures, staff training records and management review.
- Site security, and controlled goods-in and goods-out processes.
Why it matters to you
If you supply food, drink, pharmaceutical or personal care markets, your own auditors will ask where your packaging has been stored. An AA+ certificate answers that in one line and shortens supplier approval, because the evidence is already on file rather than something we promise to gather later.
It also says something about the day-to-day. Good traceability is the difference between narrowing a query to one pallet and having to quarantine a month of stock.
Getting a copy
Our current certificate, along with our FSC chain of custody (licence C214479) and Verified Carbon Standard offsetting, is on our accreditations page. Ask us and we will send the certificate, or a full supplier approval pack, normally within one working day.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a BRCGS AA+ grade?
- AA+ is the highest grade in the BRCGS Storage & Distribution standard. The plus is only awarded when the audit is unannounced, so the site is assessed with no notice and no preparation time.
- When was your audit?
- Our unannounced BRCGS Storage & Distribution audit took place on 28 and 29 July 2026 at our Letchworth Garden City site.
- Can I have a copy of the certificate?
- Yes. Request it from our accreditations page and we will send the current certificate, normally within one working day.
- Does BRCGS mean the packaging is food safe?
- BRCGS Storage & Distribution covers how goods are stored, handled, traced and despatched. We can confirm food contact suitability separately for specific materials on request.
Need our certificates for supplier approval?
We can send the BRCGS AA+ certificate, our FSC chain of custody details and an environmental statement, normally within one working day.
See our accreditationsRelated pages
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