IFS Cash and Carry Certification

For more food and product safety in wholesale and cash-and-carry markets

Certification to the IFS Cash & Carry Standard enables wholesalers and cash-and-carry stores to ensure transparent and traceable food safety and quality. The standard can be applied to both packaged and bulk foods.

Ensures food safety and quality

Consistent compliance with legal requirements

Optimizes communication between all stakeholders

Creates a high level of trust from authorities and customers

IFS Wholesale/ Cash & Carry - international standard for greater food safety and quality in the wholesale sector

The IFS Wholesale/Cash & Carry Standard was developed for wholesalers and cash & carry wholesalers and published in 2010. It is part of the International Featured Standards (IFS) for the food industry. The requirements can be used to objectively evaluate, analyze and compare food quality and safety.

An audit according to the IFS certification standard for cash & carry / wholesale takes into account all processes as well as workflows relating to loose and packaged products in the wholesale sector.The standard can be combined with other IFS standards, such as IFS Logistics, if a wholesaler also provides logistics services, for example.

Show less

For whom is IFS Cash & Carry certification suitable?

As the name suggests, the certification is primarily aimed at wholesale companies and cash-and-carry wholesalers. However, IFS Cash & Carry certification is also available for companies that pack loose or packaged goods.

If the prerequisites are met, group certifications can also be carried out at similar locations or wholesale stores. Please contact DQS to find out whether these audits according to IFS Cash & Carry/Wholesale are also possible for your operation. We are accredited for certification according to IFS.

Show less

Contents of the IFS Cash & Carry Standard

The IFS Cash & Carry Standard can be reduced to three central areas. These include product protection and the prevention of food fraud, quality management for large companies, and a comprehensive hazard analysis (HACCP).

The HACCP concept differentiates between loose and packaged goods. In principle, the IFS Cash & Carry is comparable to the IFS Food Standard in terms of requirements. However, the focus of the former is primarily on wholesale stores and wholesalers.

Show less

Why should companies be certified according to IFS Wholesale/Cash & Carry?

An audit according to the IFS Cash & Carry standard offers many advantages:

You gain access to new customers and markets.
You reduce costs by avoiding multiple audits.
You optimize your processes.
You ensure continuous compliance with legal requirements.
You demonstrate compliance with strict standards.
You increase product and food safety.

Show less

Certification Process

First, you discuss your company, your management system and the goals of certification with us. On this basis, you will promptly receive a detailed and transparent offer, tailored to your individual needs.

As soon as your company is ready, an audit date is set together with you, and approved auditors with the required competence and experience in your industry are selected. During the certification audit, our auditors will assess, among other things, whether your management system meets the requirements of the standard and identify potential for improvement. In a final meeting, you will receive a detailed presentation of the results from your DQS auditor, including a description of the potential for improvement for your company. If necessary, action plans will be agreed upon.

The audit and its results are evaluated by the independent certification board of DQS, which decides on the issuance of the IFS Cash & Carry certificate. You will receive an audit report documenting the audit results. If there are any nonconformities, you will have the opportunity to correct them and take appropriate action at this time. If all applicable requirements are met, you will receive the certificate with a validity period of one year.

After one year, your certificate will expire. To ensure that your certificate is valid without any gaps, we will schedule your next audit well in advance.

How much does IFS Cash & Carry certification cost?

The cost of IFS Cash & Carry certification depends, among other things, on the size of your company and the complexity of your processes. We will be happy to make you an individual offer for your company without obligation.