#Japan #Yokohama #Colowide #Heartful Dining #JFS Multi-Site

Colowide's Historic Achievement in Food Safety Management

In a groundbreaking move, Colowide Co., Ltd., led by President Kohei Nojiri, has announced that its consolidated subsidiary, Heartful Dining Co., Ltd., has obtained the JFS Multi-Site certification, a pioneering food safety management standard specifically designed for multi-site food service operators. This significant achievement marks Heartful Dining as the first company in the school meal industry in Japan to receive this certification established by the Japan Food Safety Management Association (JFSM).

Overview of JFS Multi-Site Certification

The JFS Multi-Site standard aligns with the hygiene management principles integrated into the Food Sanitation Act, requiring food service operators to adopt the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system. This certification emphasizes the need for robust management practices across both the headquarters and individual store locations, ensuring that food safety protocols established by the head office are effectively executed at each site. Each certified location, including all twelve of Heartful Dining’s industrial meal contract sites, will undergo an annual external audit to ensure compliance with the JFS standards.

Key Components of the Certification

The JFS Multi-Site standard is constructed around three main requirements:

1. HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points)
This system is designed to manage the entire cooking process from ingredient acceptance and storage to preparation and service. It involves a detailed flow diagram of cooking processes, identifying potential hazards (biological, chemical, physical) and establishing effective measures to counteract these risks.

2. GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)
Covering general hygiene management necessary for cooking, GMP is a prerequisite for HACCP implementation. This includes health management and training for employees, maintenance of facilities and equipment, pest control, and thorough cleaning practices.

3. FSM (Food Safety Management System)
This framework ensures effective execution of HACCP and GMP practices. Recognizing that food safety is not solely the responsibility of headquarters or stores, FSM emphasizes the completion of food safety policies and their dissemination to all staff. Additionally, it establishes the need for proper ingredient selection, allergen management, and protocols for handling major incidents.

Enhancement in Food Safety Management

The acquisition of the JFS Multi-Site certification has brought clarity to the food safety management procedures that previously relied heavily on intuition and experience. By promoting the visibility of cooking processes, the certification aims to mitigate discrepancies in food safety standards across various locations. This advancement is expected to bolster employee awareness regarding food safety and foster a continuous improvement culture within the company through its commitment to the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle. Ultimately, this certification will support the trust of business partners and assure customers of safety and reliability.

Insights from the CEO

Yohei Kayamori, President of Heartful Dining, emphasized the importance of food safety in the food service industry, stating that it not only protects customer health but also directly affects the company's reliability and sustainability. He noted that the achievement of certification is not the end but rather a beginning. With a focus on maintaining high standards, Heartful Dining aims to consolidate its practices to ensure the utmost safety for its customers and partners.

Colowide’s Commitment to Sustainability

Colowide is actively promoting sustainability management within its operations while striving to enhance long-term corporate value. The company has identified