U.S – In response to growing demand from New Zealand customers for top-notch food safety auditing services for export, Hamilton-based Hill Labs and Mérieux NutriSciences, world leaders in food safety, quality, and sustainability have formed a cooperative working relationship.
According to Hill Laboratories CEO Dr. Jonathan Hill, says there is strong demand for food safety auditing services coming from New Zealand’s horticultural sector, particularly fruit packhouses required to meet export food safety regulations.
As such, partnering with Mérieux NutriSciences allows them to offer their customers a world-class independent auditing service alongside their existing world-class analytical services.
“Hill Labs’ expertise in food, agricultural and environmental testing perfectly complements Mérieux NutriSciences’ expertise in auditing Global Food Safety Initiative [GFSI] programmes.
“The Hill Laboratories team will work together with the Mérieux NutriSciences team of experts to provide comprehensive solutions for New Zealand food businesses which will encompass both food safety testing and auditing services. The end result is that we will be better able to support our customers’ full suite of export certification compliance needs,” said Dr. Hill.
Global food safety programs, such as those benchmarked and acknowledged by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), are being used by an increasing number of retailers and manufacturers to demand that food suppliers prove their dedication to upholding food safety and quality standards.
The certification and food auditing services offered by Mérieux NutriSciences certify the highest levels of safety and quality along the whole food value chain.
The company is accredited through the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ).
“The strategic partnership with Hill Laboratories expands Mérieux NutriSciences’ auditing services for the first time to New Zealand, allowing us to better serve the growing Pacific market,” said Kevin Goddaer, Managing Director, Mérieux NutriSciences.
Both Hill Labs and Mérieux NutriSciences are family-owned, and according to Hill, the two businesses have a lot in common, particularly a shared emphasis on quality.
“Both of our companies have a shared ambition to help local food growers and manufacturers to meet international food safety and quality standards,” said Dr. Hill.
Dr. Roger and Anne Hill established Hill Labs in 1984, and it has since expanded to become the largest privately-owned analytical laboratory in New Zealand.
“Hill Labs already does a significant amount of testing for the horticultural sector. The ability to now offer our packhouse customers and other horticultural clients this top-quality, independent auditing service gives us another string in our bow,” the CEO commented.
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