It comes as no surprise that food safety is a top priority in the cold storage industry, where any lapse in temperature control or product mishandling can compromise supplies. That’s why many companies, including Interstate Cold Storage, pursue Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification, a globally recognized program that verifies adherence to rigorous food safety and quality standards.
Achieving SQF certification demonstrates a company’s commitment to excellence, ensuring food is stored, managed and distributed in a way that meets or exceeds customer and industry expectations. For Interstate Cold Storage, which recently secured SQF certification for its Columbus II warehouse, it wasn’t just about compliance, it was also about reinforcing our dedication to quality and instilling confidence in our customers.
Read on to explore why a third-party cold storage provider should be motivated to pursue this important milestone.
By proactively identifying and assessing food safety hazards through a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points-based (HACCP) food safety plan, customers can be reassured that their products are managed, stored and distributed in a manner that will minimize food safety risks throughout all process steps. Interstate Cold Storage is certified by the Food Safety Code for storage and distribution. Other manufacturing industries might pursue certifications to the following codes depending on their product scope:
Achieving SQF certification goes beyond yearly audits; it influences every aspect of a cold storage warehouse’s daily operations to ensure consistent food safety and quality. Certified facilities must adhere to strict guidelines in key operational areas, including:
Beyond these core areas, SQF certification also requires cold storage facilities to manage allergens and chemicals carefully to prevent cross-contact, ensure proper handling of hazardous materials, and maintain strict shipping and receiving protocols to verify product integrity. Additionally, ongoing employee training is necessary for keeping staff informed on best practices and regulatory requirements. By embedding these standards into daily operations, cold storage providers enhance efficiency, reduce risks and build trust with customers.
Securing SQF certification requires careful planning and execution. The process begins with hiring an SQF Practitioner, an expert responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining the SQF system for the facility. From there this person will:
Achieving SQF Certification is a thorough process that requires a facility to meet elevated food safety and quality standards. Even for sites with a strong foundation, such as those already certified in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), there are challenges in adapting to the more comprehensive requirements of SQF.
One of those challenges is expanding existing protocols to align with SQF’s more detailed and stringent standards. While GMP Certification provides a solid baseline, SQF demands additional documentation, enhanced process controls and a more structured approach to risk management. This often requires revising procedures, strengthening monitoring systems and ensuring seamless implementation across all departments.
Another challenge is maintaining team alignment throughout the process. Clear communication and ongoing collaboration are essential to successfully implementing new policies and process improvements. Regular meetings and training sessions help ensure that all team members understand changes, stay engaged and contribute to the cold storage facility’s overall compliance efforts.
A strong commitment to food safety, proactive problem-solving and teamwork can make all the difference in overcoming challenges. For Interstate Cold Storage, this commitment to excellence has led to a significant achievement, SQF certification at its Columbus warehouse!
Led by SQF Practitioner, Megan Beachler, the certification process took nine months from start to finish, involving two key phases: development and implementation. In the development phase, ICS established comprehensive SQF procedures and forms, creating the foundation for a robust food safety system. The implementation phase focused on integrating these procedures into daily operations, requiring clear goal-setting, role designation, strategic rollouts, continuous communication, training and internal audits to ensure seamless adoption.
Key improvements and new protocols
To meet SQF standards, ICS enhanced existing programs and introduced new protocols to strengthen its food safety framework. Some of the most significant improvements included enhancements to the current crisis management plan. ICS now conducts an annual crisis management drill to assess and refine emergency response strategies. These drills provide valuable insights for further improving the plan.
Additionally, the Columbus warehouse now adheres to stricter SQF facility condition guidelines, leading to a more robust preventative maintenance program to ensure all equipment and infrastructure remain in optimal condition. Cleaning and sanitation procedures are now fully documented and verified through an internal audit program to maintain compliance with SQF’s stringent standards. All new hires now undergo SQF training upon onboarding, and all employees receive annual SQF refresher training. Leadership teams also complete additional refresher courses in HACCP, internal audits, recall procedures and food defense to strengthen the organization’s overall food safety culture.
Achieving certification is just the beginning as maintaining compliance is an ongoing priority. ICS is dedicated to continual monitoring, reassessment and improvement to uphold the integrity of its SQF system. This responsibility is shared across all levels of the organization, from top management to frontline workers, ensuring a strong food safety culture where every employee understands the importance of their role in maintaining compliance.
Looking ahead, ICS plans to pursue SQF certification at additional locations, further reinforcing its commitment to excellence in food safety and quality across its entire network.
Ensuring your third-party cold storage provider is SQF-certified is an important step toward safeguarding the quality and safety of your products. If you're looking for a trusted partner who prioritizes food safety and quality at every stage of the process, contact Interstate Cold Storage today to learn more about how we can support your business needs.
Interstate Cold Storage (ICS), announces Don Chambers has been promoted to director of operations. Chambers’ primary responsibilities will include managing and overseeing the daily functions within all five of the company’s locations across the Midwest.
(more…)New equipment purchase for ICS. Interstate Cold Storage (ICS), a premier provider of temperature-controlled warehousing solutions, is taking a substantial step to enhance operational efficiency by integrating two state-of-the-art reach trucks into its Columbus II facility in Columbus, Ohio. According to Charles Betts, ICS national sales manager, these new additions will streamline and optimize warehousing and logistics processes.
(more…)Here at Interstate Cold Storage, we recognize that our company would be nothing without our team of employees working behind the scenes. As a family-owned company, we think it is important to highlight the talented personnel that has made our company what it is today. This quarter’s employee spotlight is Norm Guy, the Warehouse Supervisor at our Fort Wayne West location.
(more…)In the third of our multipart series, we will continue discussing the impacts of the pandemic from a 3PL cold storage company’s vantage point. In this post, we will be covering the pandemic and safety changes in the 3PL cold storage industry.
(more…)Recognition should go where recognition is deserved and in this case, it goes to Russell R. Borstelman. Russ just celebrated his 33rd year with Interstate Cold Storage. As you may have read in Russ's profile, Russell has held management positions at all levels of the company. During his 30+ years with the company, Russ's contributions and leadership has helped to position Interstate as an industry leader.
Russ is married to his wife Carol (a Registered Nurse working in Infection Control) and they have three children, Kurt who works for a large medical company in Dayton, OH, Ross who is employed with a large insurance company in Columbus, OH and daughter Jill who teaches high school English in Fort Myers, FL.
Jill and her husband Clay were the first to bring grandchildren into the family with daughter Kate and will soon welcome Russell's first grandson.
Russ's hobbies include flying WW II vintage military aircraft for the Commemorative Air Force and the Hooligans Flight Team on the air show circuit.
Russ has said that he enjoys working for the company so much because it is family owned and he has been treated very well over the years by the family. Congratulations to Russell Borstelman.
Interstate Cold Storage was awarded three regions of the Indiana Department of Education school lunch program. Covering two thirds of the state of Indiana , Interstate Cold Storage will be distributing USDA commodities to over 800 schools. Interstate is pleased to be partnered with the State of Indiana and to provide safe and nutritional meals to the school systems.
