Scheme selection
We review your buyers' written requirements, export markets and product categories, then recommend the scheme that covers them with one audit where possible.
GFSI & BRCGS consultant · Miami, FL
GFSI certification, starting with the scheme your buyer will accept
SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000 and IFS are all GFSI-recognized, but they are not interchangeable. We help you pick the right one, then build the system and prepare you for the audit.
What is GFSI certification? GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) does not certify companies. It benchmarks food safety certification programs such as SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000 and IFS. A GFSI certification means an accredited certification body audited your site against one of those recognized schemes and issued a certificate.
Juan S. VargasSQF Food Safety Auditor · Exemplar Global
- Certified SQF auditorExemplar Global · 2024
- On-site, hands-onMiami-based · across the U.S.
- English & SpanishBilingual training
- Free 30-min gap callReply within one business day
Who it's for
Who needs a GFSI consultant
The request usually arrives as one line in a supplier questionnaire: "GFSI-recognized certification required." What follows is a decision that shapes the next several months of work, so it pays to make it with the buyer's actual expectations in hand.
- Manufacturers and co-packers asked for "a GFSI certificate" by a retailer, distributor or brand owner
- Exporters to the UK, Europe or Canada whose customers name BRCGS, IFS or FSSC 22000 specifically
- Multi-customer plants that need one scheme several buyers will accept
- Certified sites that scored a low BRCGS grade or want to switch schemes
- Packaging and ingredient suppliers to food companies that pass GFSI requirements down the supply chain
The problem
Why GFSI projects stall or fail the first audit
Wrong scheme
The site builds for one scheme and then learns a key buyer only accepts another. Months of documents need reworking.
Culture and commitment gaps
All four schemes now expect visible senior management commitment and a food safety culture plan. Auditors test it by interviewing people, not by reading a policy.
Fundamental requirements missed
BRCGS marks some clauses as fundamental. A major non-conformity against one of them can prevent certification, even if the rest of the system is strong.
Site standards neglected
Building fabric, segregation, foreign material controls and pest control are easy to underestimate in older buildings.
Records without history
A system written the month before the audit has no records to show that internal audits, verification and management review actually happened.
Root cause skipped
Corrective actions fix the symptom only, so the certification body rejects the evidence or the same finding repeats.
What's included
What our GFSI and BRCGS consulting includes
Gap analysis to the chosen standard
A clause-by-clause assessment on site, with fundamental and high-risk requirements flagged first.
System build
HACCP-based food safety plan, food safety culture plan, supplier approval, allergen, foreign material, environmental monitoring, food defense and food fraud programs.
Site standards review
Building, equipment, hygiene zones and traffic flows assessed against the standard, with practical fixes ranked by cost and audit risk.
Bilingual training
Management, supervisors and line staff trained in English and Spanish, with records the auditor can follow.
Mock audit & certification support
A mock audit graded the way your certification body grades, corrective actions with root cause, and support through the real audit.
The standards
SQF vs BRCGS vs FSSC 22000 vs IFS: how to choose
GFSI is an industry-driven initiative that sets benchmarking requirements for food safety certification programs. Retailers and brand owners use GFSI recognition as a shortcut: one audit to a recognized scheme instead of many customer audits. The four schemes below are the ones our clients are most often asked for.
| Scheme | Structure | Result | Often requested by |
|---|---|---|---|
| SQF | Codes by sector, run by SQFI (a division of FMI); optional Quality Code | Numeric score with ratings E, G, C, F | U.S. retailers and foodservice buyers |
| BRCGS Food Safety | Single prescriptive standard with fundamental clauses | Grades AA, A, B, C, D (+ for unannounced audits) | UK retailers and many North American buyers |
| FSSC 22000 | ISO 22000 management system plus sector prerequisite programs and additional requirements | Certified or not, with graded non-conformities | Multinational manufacturers and companies already using ISO systems |
| IFS Food | Single standard with knock-out requirements | Foundation or Higher level based on a percentage score | European retailers, especially in Germany, France and Italy |
Rule of thumb: selling mostly to U.S. retail, SQF is usually the simplest path (see SQF consulting). Exporting to UK retail, BRCGS. Supplying global brand owners with ISO systems in place, FSSC 22000. European retail, IFS. Always confirm with the buyer's written requirements first.
Questions to answer before you choose a scheme
- Which schemes does each of your top customers accept, in writing, in their current supplier requirements?
- Do you export, or plan to export, to the UK, the EU or Canada in the next two to three years?
- Do you already run an ISO management system that FSSC 22000 could build on?
- Do you also need a quality certification, such as the SQF Quality Code, on top of food safety?
- Which certification bodies with auditors for your food category can schedule an audit in South Florida on your timeline?
BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 grades
Issue 9 is the current BRCGS Food Safety standard, published August 1, 2022, with audits from February 1, 2023. The grade depends on the number and severity of non-conformities found, and it affects how buyers see you and how soon you are audited again.
| Grade | What it reflects |
|---|---|
| AA / AA+ | The fewest non-conformities, all minor |
| A / A+ | A small number of minor non-conformities |
| B / B+ | More minor non-conformities, or a major one |
| C / C+ | A larger number of non-conformities; certified, with closer audit attention |
| D / D+ | The most non-conformities that still allow certification; a weak position with buyers |
The "+" is added when the site is certified through an unannounced audit. A critical non-conformity, or a major non-conformity against a fundamental requirement, means no certificate is issued.
BRCGS Issue 10 timing. The consultation for Issue 10 closed in February 2026 and publication is expected around mid-2027. Issue 9 remains the standard you will be audited against until then. We build systems so the transition is an update, not a rewrite.
How we work
Three phases from scheme choice to certificate
Scheme choice & gap analysis
Buyer requirements reviewed, scheme confirmed, then a full on-site gap analysis against the chosen standard with fundamental clauses first.
You receive: scheme recommendation, scored gap report, timeline to audit.
System build & training
Programs written with your team, site standards fixes planned, food safety culture plan launched and staff trained in English and Spanish.
You receive: food safety manual, programs and forms, training records, internal audit schedule.
Mock audit & certification
Mock audit graded in your certification body's format, corrective actions closed with root cause, and support during the certification audit.
You receive: mock audit report and grade estimate, corrective action log, audit-day support.
Local angle
GFSI consulting for South Florida manufacturers and exporters
South Florida plants sell in several directions at once: national U.S. retail, Caribbean and Latin American distributors, and UK or European buyers. A bakery in Hialeah may face SQF from one customer and BRCGS from another. Choosing one scheme both accept can save a second audit every year.
We are based in Miami and work on-site across Florida and the U.S., in English and Spanish. If your site needs a starting point before choosing, begin with a food safety gap assessment; if your products are fresh produce, the right GFSI option may be PrimusGFS.
Results
GFSI case records
CASE 01 · BAKERY & SNACK CO-PACKER
65,000 sq ft · Hialeah, FL
- Standard
- BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9
- At gap analysis
- 52 gaps (9 major)
- At certification audit
- Certified · Grade A
- Outcome
- Retail supply contract kept
20 weeks
Illustrative engagement · real client data pending authorization
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is GFSI a certification?
No. GFSI benchmarks certification programs; it does not audit or certify sites. When a buyer asks for GFSI certification, they mean a certificate to a GFSI-recognized scheme such as SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000 or IFS, issued by an accredited certification body.
Which is better, SQF or BRCGS?
Neither is better in general. SQF is the scheme most often requested by U.S. retailers; BRCGS is common with UK retailers and accepted by many North American buyers. The right choice is the one your key customers accept, which is why we start with their written requirements.
How long does BRCGS or FSSC 22000 certification take?
Most facilities need 3 to 6 months from gap analysis to certification audit. Sites with a working HACCP plan and prerequisite programs can move faster; sites that need building or equipment changes usually take longer. The system also needs records of operation before the audit.
When will BRCGS Issue 10 apply?
The Issue 10 consultation closed in February 2026 and publication is expected around mid-2027. Until the new issue is published and its audit start date arrives, sites are audited against Issue 9.
How much does GFSI certification cost?
Costs include the certification body's audit fees, any scheme registration fees, site improvements and consulting time. Consulting cost depends on the scheme, the size of the gap and how much on-site work is needed. We quote a fixed scope after a 30-minute gap call.
Free gap call
Have an audit on the calendar?
In 30 minutes we review your standard, your date and your most likely gaps, and tell you honestly whether you need us.
- +1 786 209 7451
- Mon–Fri · 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET
- jusevalu02@gmail.com
- 5.0 on Google
Juan S. VargasSQF Food Safety Auditor · PCQI
Request a gap call or a quote
Takes under a minute. Juan reviews every request personally.