Tru-Cape Fruit marketing recently celebrated an achievement by its shareholder, Ceres Fruit Growers (CFG), which was named BRCGS Certificated Site of the Year by Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standards (BRCGS).
The award was presented in London and recognises exceptional commitment to food safety, quality management and supply chain integrity. It represents more than an industry accolade, providing independent assurance that the apples and pears stocked by retailers and purchased by consumers meet stringent global food safety standards.
BRCGS certification is regarded worldwide as a benchmark for product safety, legality, authenticity and quality. The award signifies consistent excellence in maintaining these standards, demonstrating a deeply embedded food safety culture and using certification to strengthen operations.
“Ceres Fruit Growers is honoured to be recognised,” Francois Malan, managing director of Ceres Fruit Growers, said. “Winning this award confirms the mutual trust we share with our clients and shareholders. Challenging ourselves through continuous improvement and teamwork is a proven recipe for success, embodying our slogan, ‘Leading the way’. A commitment to a strong food safety and quality culture is an integral part of our DNA.”
Joe Hanekom, senior manager of production at Ceres Fruit Growers, emphasised the direct benefit to customers.
“This award is particularly meaningful because it followed nomination by the industry. Over the past five years, we have achieved consecutive AA gradings in unannounced annual audits, with fewer than five deviations each time. That consistency demonstrates that our systems are not only in place but are working effectively at all times.
“Our food safety and quality culture is something our staff actively live by, from management to the different departmental teams, everyone understands their role in protecting the integrity of our product.”
For retailers and consumers, this recognition assures that the apples and pears reaching their shelves have been handled according to rigorous international standards.
“We challenge ourselves every year to improve further. Ultimately, this recognition belongs to the entire team and reinforces the trust placed in us by our customers and shareholders,” Hanekom said.
As the global marketer of Ceres Fruit Growers’ apples and pears, Tru-Cape highlighted the importance of the award in strengthening retailer partnerships and consumer confidence.
“Retailers operate in an environment where traceability, food safety and consistency are non-negotiable,” Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape, said. “This award provides independent verification that the fruit marketed worldwide is supported by robust systems and a deeply embedded quality culture. For consumers, it means peace of mind. For retailers, it means reduced risk and a reliable supply partner. For Tru-Cape, it reinforces the trust that underpins relationships across global markets.”