SQF is a certification through the Safe Quality Foods Institute. It is a quality management system, specific to food.

Calico Cottage obtained the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Institute Certification under the Food Safety Code for Manufacturing and achieved a rating of “Excellent” through National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International, an independent public health and safety organization.

Inspections & on-the-spot interviews

SQF audits occur over a 2 1/2 day period, and include inspection of documents (policies, procedures and records), inspection of manufacturing areas and on-the-spot employee interviews about our food safety program.

We achieved this elite level of food safety, systems and process as an extra measure of quality assurance to ensure that our products continually meet global standards.

SQF certification allows food safety systems to be verified and validated throughout the supply chain, boosting brand protection, consumer confidence and loyalty.

SQF is recognized by retailers, foodservice providers and regulatory agencies worldwide that require Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) food safety management systems by their suppliers. Calico Cottage is the only manufacturer of fudge and nut ingredients that holds this globally recognized food safety certification.

At Calico, we have a Quality & Food Safety department that is passionate about upholding these standards.

We have two employees who are Certified SQF Practitioners, HACCP Certified and PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) Certified. This means they have undergone specialized training and passed comprehensive exams to meet SQF and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements.

We also have additional training on testing products for shelf life, sensory evaluation of foods, performing audits and inspections and product labeling/regulatory training. We have a dedicated Research & Development Technician who works on product formulations for both existing products and those under development, and does extensive testing on such things as colors, flavors and fudge ingredient inclusions.

At Calico Cottage, we care tremendously about the safety of your customers.

Our SQF Certification is the latest in our long history of adhering to the most rigorous food safety standards. We guarantee that we will never stop striving to improve our safety and quality systems while always providing the safest, best quality food to you and your consumers.