Major retailers – Woolworths, Foodstuffs, Costco – have food safety and quality requirements that go well beyond the regulatory minimum. Understanding exactly what they need from you, assessing where your current systems sit against those requirements, and closing the gaps before you submit – that is retail readiness. Produco prepares food businesses for major retailer entry.
Retail Readiness
Most food businesses that have been trading for some time have a reasonable foundation in place – an MPI-approved FCP, some form of HACCP programme, basic traceability. That foundation is often not enough for major retailer entry. Retailers apply their own supplier standards on top of the regulatory minimum – and those standards have been getting more demanding. Common gaps include:
- GFSI certification – some retailers now require FSSC 22000, BRCGS, or SQF certification as a condition of supply
- Retailer-specific supplier standards that go beyond what your current FCP or HACCP programme covers
- Labelling compliance – retailers have their own labelling requirements as well as regulatory requirements
- Allergen management documentation that meets retailer audit expectations, not just regulatory minimums
- Traceability systems that can respond to a retailer-initiated recall or withdrawal within retailer-defined timeframes
- Pest control, cleaning, and environmental monitoring programmes at a level retailers are comfortable with
- A quality assurance system that is documented, monitored, and demonstrably working
What Retail Readiness Covers
Retailer Requirements Review
We identify the specific food safety and quality requirements for your target retailer - whether that is Woolworths, Countdown, Foodstuffs, Costco, or an international retail chain. Requirements vary by retailer and by product category.
Gap Assessment
We assess your current systems against those requirements and give you a clear, prioritised gap list. You know exactly what needs to change before you are ready to submit - and what does not.
FCP, HACCP, and Quality System Alignment
We update or rebuild the elements of your food safety and quality system that do not meet the retailer's requirements. This includes FCP and HACCP alignment, monitoring records, corrective action processes, and quality documentation.
Labelling Compliance Review
We review your labels against both retailer requirements and regulatory requirements - ingredient declarations, allergen statements, nutritional information, country of origin, and any retailer-specific format requirements.
GFSI Certification Planning
If your target retailer requires GFSI certification, we build a certification programme for you - selecting the right standard (FSSC 22000, BRCGS, or SQF), preparing your system, and managing the certification process. See our FSSC 22000, BRCGS and SQF page for more detail.
Retailer Audit Preparation
We prepare you for retailer-required supplier audits - reviewing documentation, briefing your team, and running through the audit process so there are no surprises on the day.
Corrective Action Support
If a retailer audit has identified gaps, we close them out and support you through the corrective action submission process.
Why Produco
We work alongside your team to understand what went wrong, implement practical solutions, and build stronger systems that stand up to future audits and regulatory scrutiny.
Retail Experience
Experience preparing NZ food businesses for major retailer entry across multiple product categories
GFSI Specialists
GFSI expertise – FSSC 22000, BRCGS, and SQF certified systems built and approved
Compliance Knowledge
Labelling and regulatory knowledge across FSANZ requirements and retailer-specific standards
Lead Auditor Qualified
We know what retailer and certification body auditors are looking for
Practical Approach
We build systems your team can maintain, not showcase documentation
Whatever the Problem, We'll Help You Fix It.
Produco helps you identify the problem, implement the solution, and get your business back on track.