Our recently appointed managing director, Andrew Downie, explores the importance of Kersia UK’s four key values – transparency, sharing, proficiency, and foresight – in ensuring food safety across the global supply chain.
The food industry faces a multitude of challenges – from supply chain disruptions and new regulatory standards to environmental concerns and changing consumer expectations.
As we continue to navigate this landscape, one thing remains constant: the need to ensure food safety. Ensuring that the food we consume is safe, nutritious, and free from contamination is fundamental to protecting public health and building consumer trust.
Creating a food-safe world doesn’t happen by accident. It requires a collective commitment from every corner of the food supply chain – farmers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, suppliers and service providers like Kersia UK.
As businesses, we must rise to the challenge by embedding core values into our operations that not only support food safety but also foster a culture of transparency, sharing, proficiency, and foresight. These values form the foundation of how we do business and how we can collectively contribute to a safer, more sustainable food system.
Transparency – building trust through open communication
Transparency is a key value in today’s business environment. In an age where consumers and stakeholders are increasingly demanding more information about the origins of their food, the processes behind its production, and the ethical standards that guide its creation, businesses must be open and honest about what they do.
Transparency isn’t just about sharing information; it’s about building trust.
At Kersia, we believe that transparency means being upfront about our processes, our successes, and our challenges. It’s about providing customers, employees, and partners with a clear understanding of how we operate and the standards we uphold.
For example, when we talk about the chemicals and disinfectants we use in the food safety space, we are not only committed to providing the most effective products, but we also take pride in explaining how we ensure their safety and efficacy.
From raw material sourcing to product manufacturing and distribution, we strive to ensure that every step is traceable and understandable.
But transparency goes beyond our product offerings. It also extends to our decision-making processes, our goals, and the way we respond to industry challenges. We encourage open dialogue within our teams, where employees feel empowered to share ideas, question practices, and suggest improvements.
This openness creates an environment where everyone feels responsible for our collective success.
Sharing – collaborating for a common purpose
While transparency is about openness, sharing is about collaboration.
We must acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers and that food safety is a shared responsibility across industries, sectors, and even nations.
From farm to table, everyone in the food supply chain plays a vital role, and collaboration is essential to improving food safety standards.
At Kersia, we understand that sharing knowledge and expertise is crucial for the advancement of food safety practices. This is why we work closely with our customers, suppliers, and other industry players to share insights, research, and best practices.
By exchanging ideas, we can identify areas for improvement, whether that’s through the development of new, more efficient disinfectants or through enhancing the training and support we offer to food producers.
In our business, sharing also means being part of a broader conversation about sustainability and environmental impact. The food safety sector doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Everything we do is linked to larger societal and environmental concerns.
For example, when we innovate new products or improve existing ones, we focus on reducing their environmental footprint, ensuring they’re as safe for the planet as they are for food products.
This is a shared responsibility, one that requires businesses like ours to constantly exchange knowledge and work together to create solutions that benefit everyone.
Proficiency – raising the standard for quality and safety
Proficiency is more than just expertise; it’s a continuous pursuit of excellence. In the food safety sector, businesses must constantly refine their knowledge, skills, and products to meet evolving standards and emerging risks. It’s not enough to simply do things well – we must do them better every day.
Kersia UK is dedicated to ensuring that our employees are experts in their fields and that our products meet the highest standards. Our commitment to proficiency extends across all areas of the business – from research and development to production, distribution, and customer service.
We’ve invested heavily in innovation, with a dedicated research centre that is constantly exploring new technologies and solutions to address food safety challenges.
But proficiency also means that we must continuously educate ourselves and stay ahead of industry trends. Food safety regulations are always evolving, and new risks (whether related to contamination or emerging pathogens) are a constant concern.
We aim to be proactive in identifying potential threats and equipping our customers with the knowledge and tools to respond swiftly and effectively. This is a commitment to continuous learning and improvement that Kersia UK takes seriously.
Foresight – preparing for the challenges of tomorrow
Our final underpinning value is foresight – the ability to anticipate and prepare for future challenges.
The industry continuously evolves in the face of new scientific developments, technological advancements, shifting consumer preferences and global economic factors. The future of food safety will be shaped by forces that are often difficult to predict. But that doesn’t mean we can’t prepare for them.
At Kersia, we take a forward-thinking approach to our business strategy. Whether it’s investing in cutting-edge technologies like AI to improve food safety processes or exploring sustainable alternatives to traditional chemicals, we are committed to looking beyond the immediate challenges and anticipating what’s to come.
Foresight also means being ready to respond to unforeseen crises. Whether it’s a global pandemic or an outbreak of foodborne illness, businesses must be agile and ready to pivot quickly to address emerging threats.
For Kersia UK, this has meant quickly ramping up production of essential products like hand sanitisers during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as developing solutions for global food safety challenges such as avian influenza.
The role of businesses in creating a food-safe world
In my role, I am constantly reminded of the profound impact that businesses can have on society. It is our responsibility to help create a world where food is safe, sustainable, and accessible to all.
But we cannot do this alone. It takes collective action, driven by core values, to make meaningful progress.
Transparency, sharing, proficiency, and foresight are the principles that guide everything we do. By embracing these values, we can work together with our partners, customers, and communities to create a safer, more sustainable food system for generations to come.
The food industry may face many challenges, but with the right mindset and a commitment to these values, we can build a food-safe world.
I’m proud to be part of that journey, and I believe that by working together, we can make a real difference.
By Andrew Downie, Managing Director of Kersia UK
