Supermarket and department store chain Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc. (MRSGI) has been recertified anew for meeting the highest sanitary and food safety management standards, a development seen as crucial at a time when COVID-19 continues to pose serious threats to public health.
The recertification is for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). This covers the Fresh section that comprises Meat, Poultry, Seafood, and Fruits and Vegetables of Metro supermarket’s branches at Metro Alabang and Metro Market! Market! Taguig in Metro Manila as well as Ayala Center Cebu and Metro Mandaue City in the Visayas.
Image: Metro Retail Stores
The auditing was conducted by the British Standards Institution (BSI) Group Philippines, Inc. and SGS Philippines, both global leaders in providing benchmark of quality and integrity through inspection, verification, testing and certification.
The accreditations illustrate MRSGI’s strict compliance with globally recognized food safety and sanitation practices as part of its comprehensive initiatives to provide its shoppers, along with its workforce, with peace of mind and confidence within its premises.
According to Manuel Alberto, MRSGI President and Chief Operating Officer, maintaining the quality, safety, and freshness of its Supermarket produce is essential for continued trust and patronage.
“Even before this pandemic, we have long followed the GMP and HACCP guidelines as part of our commitment to our stakeholders, including consumers and employees, and the communities where we operate. During these unprecedented times, adhering to GMP- and HACCP-specified plans has become even more imperative as we strive to protect our frontline workers and ensure their well-being while serving our customers with utmost quality and excellence,” Alberto said.
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) defines HACCP as a systematic approach to the identification, evaluation, and control of food safety hazards to ensure that food is safe for public consumption. A GMP seal, on the other hand, guarantees an establishment’s implementation of the best food manufacturing procedures and fulfillment of food safety regulations. GMP, one of the prerequisite programs that provides the foundation for the HACCP system, mandates complete compliance with sanitary procedures as part of its minimum requirements.
“Along with our unchanging commitment to the health of everyone, we are also continuously working towards promoting safety in our workflow and quality in every stage of the supply chain. With our accreditations, we will remain keen on transforming to meet the global standards and address the needs of the times — bearing in mind our responsibility to safeguard the health of everyone while satisfying the ever-evolving requirements of our customers,” Alberto added.
The premier supermarket chain, which offers a wide selection of products and services – from fresh fruits and frozen meats to snacks, canned goods, and personal care products – is the first retailer in the Philippines to obtain the GMP and HACCP qualifications. The Metro Supermarket Alabang is the first to be GMP- and HACCP-certified.
