Australia’s largest supermarkets and grocery wholesalers now must follow a new mandatory Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, enforced by the ACCC. The code sets clear rules on how businesses deal with their suppliers, aiming to ensure fair, transparent, and ethical practices across the grocery sector. It applies to all retailers and wholesalers who earned over $5 billion in the…
In 2024, Australia saw a total of 95 food recalls, reflecting an increase from previous years. The primary drivers behind these recalls were undeclared allergens, accounting for 57% of all incidents, and microbial contamination, which contributed to 20% of the recalls. Over the past decade, undeclared allergens have consistently been the leading cause of recalls, with a staggering 213 incidents…
A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is a framework that ensures an organization can continue operating during and after disruptions such as natural disasters, cyber-attacks, fires, product recalls or other crises. We review these plans for clients all the time as they can be crucial in an organisation successfully navigating a critical incident. It is fair to say, what we find…
This article was produced by Dipon Sarkar, Victual’s Food Safety Consultant, in partnership with Deon Mahoney. It is a two-part article published in Food Australia magazine. It is reproduced here with permission. With increasing complexities in food production and distribution, a robust framework for assessing and managing risks has become critical. This series in Food Australia aims to explore the…
Sprinkler systems are widely recognized as the most effective form of fire protection available in the market, significantly reducing property damage and saving lives. However, sprinklers are not cheap. Depending on the size of your site and the available water supply, installation costs could be in the millions. For many businesses and property owners, the decision to install sprinklers often…
The festive season often brings a natural pause in business operations, providing a valuable opportunity for rest and reflection. However, for companies shutting down over Christmas, ensuring safety and security at worksites is critical to avoid potential risks that can arise during the hiatus. Proper planning and adherence to a comprehensive safety checklist are essential to safeguard personnel, assets, and…
From 12 February 2025, three new standards aiming to reduce food safety risks in berries, leafy vegetables and melons will come into effect in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. These standards are: Background The initial proposal for these standard changes were made in January 2018, as it was recognised that there has been an increase in food safety…
Many businesses fail to properly classify their operations for insurance purposes, resulting in missed opportunities to lower premiums. The complexities of grouping different activities can lead to inflated costs, but the right adjustments can make a substantial difference. Achieving significant savings through a workers’ compensation restructure can make a substantial difference for your business. By optimizing your coverage, you can…
Your business is probably one of the most valuable assets you have – so it makes sense to protect it in good times and bad. That’s where having the right level of insurance can make all the difference by helping to ensure your business continues to operate smoothly if the unexpected happens. With the current level of inflation, it’s common…
Ethical and sustainable food and beverage production is increasingly on the radar of not just retailers, but consumers as well. Sustainably sourced products enable a business to operate more efficiently and indicates a company cares about their footprint and their environmental impact. Do you have a fit for purpose, action orientated plan for sustainability? How do you show your customers,…
