In 2024, Foundation FSSC welcomed the first certificates issued to organizations for the FSSC 24000 Scheme Version 1.0 for Social Management Systems. During the FSSC Insights Event, leading global beverage manufacturer Refresco received its FSSC 24000 certificate from the Certification Body SGS.
FSSC 24000 Certification was awarded specifically to Refresco’s Bodegraven Site in the Netherlands. Rowdy van Raalten, Plant Manager Bodegraven, gave FSSC the rundown on their success with the Scheme for Social Management Systems.
Why did Refresco Bodegraven choose FSSC 24000 certification?
This achievement underlines Refresco’s commitment to social sustainability and highlights our pioneering role in applying the FSSC 24000 standards. It truly reflects the work culture within Refresco Bodegraven and Refresco as a whole. Our core values, of which responsible and agile are important parts, are not just nice words on a wall. They are deeply embedded in who we are and how we do things. The three auditors felt this, too, and saw the connection between management and the shop floor, and on the shop floor itself.
We believe that social topics should always be top of mind, resulting in a highly motivating and stimulating work environment. This certification confirms that we are on the right track with how we treat our people; Refresco wants to be a great place to work.Rowdy van Raalten, Plant Manager Bodegraven
What lessons did you learn during the certification process?
When looking at the full end-to-end FSSC 24000 standard and its requirements, we saw that we still could “dot some i’s and cross some t’s” to make sure we had a solid system and way of working in place. In everything we do, we strive to build a mature organization in which all key processes are managed as much as possible by the shopfloor, which makes it less dependent on managers (because they come and go over time). Regarding our social processes, we could improve some steps to embed them in our processes and DNA, and with this ownership from management to shopfloor and vice versa. It was a great experience! Because this is what continuous improvement is all about.
How does Refresco feel that certification will benefit your organization?
ESG is integral to how Refresco conducts our operations, serves our customers, and helps our people develop. FSSC 24000 is the certification Scheme that covers the social component of ESG. Bodegraven is the first Refresco factory to choose certification under the FSSC 24000 scheme. It fits well with the site’s ISO-compliant management system.
About Refresco
Refresco is a global independent beverage solutions provider for retailers and Global, National, and Emerging (GNE) brands in Europe, North America, and Australia. We combine production of retailer brands and contract manufacturing for branded beverage companies on an effective multiuser production platform that benefits from scale advantages and additional services. Our production platform covers over 70 manufacturing sites in Europe, Australia, the US, Canada, and Mexico, providing customers with close proximity and reliable service across geographies. Our global supply chain expertise and local innovation capabilities offer an almost unlimited variety of soft drinks, fruit juices, and other beverages, manufactured to individual customer specifications and requirements.
