Lewis Pies, the Swansea-based pie company, has secured a Grade A certificate for food safety from the BRC Global Standards.

BRC Global Standards is a leading safety and quality certification programme, used by over 22,000 certificated suppliers in 123 countries, with certification issued through a worldwide network of accredited certification bodies.

The standards guarantee a certain level of quality, safety and operational criteria and ensure that manufacturers fulfil their legal obligations and provide protection for the end-consumer. BRC Global Standards are now often a fundamental requirement of leading retailers.

Katie Young, the company’s technical manager, who joined Lewis Pies from Cornwall-based pasty maker Ginsters earlier this year, said retaining the highest possible standard was important to Lewis Pies since it allowed the company to manufacturer for other retailers.

Young said: “Retaining this accreditation means we remain a grade ‘A’ facility and that also means we can take on blue-chip manufacturing – making produce directly for retailers, which is then sold directly to the public. This is not an easy accreditation to retain. It is an ongoing standard that everyone in the company must adhere to 365 days a year, but it represents a critical achievement for the company and one that we must now maintain.”

Wilf Lewis, managing director of Lewis Pies, said: “Ensuring we operate to the very highest standards in terms of food safety is central to what we do as a business. We are always striving to improve in this department and retaining a Grade A certification from the BRC is testament to the hard work the whole team have put in, guided by Katie.”