Why be a kosher?

Kosher certification is a standalone international quality standard which is increasingly prevalent in the food ingredients and retail sector.

Walk into any supermarket in North America or Europe and you will see that a significant portion of the food and drink is certified kosher, from the coveted Mars Bar, Marmite, to McCain’s oven chips.

Kosher certification can help generate additional sales revenue by providing an avenue to gain access to new markets and customers.

Kosher products require kosher certified ingredients. Ingredient buyers specify kosher knowing that their supplier’s manufacturing process has been independently audited. This gives an extra level of comfort that is not always there with other certifications. In some supply chains, manufacturers of certain ingredients have no choice but to certify for kosher if they are to qualify for inclusion on the buyer's list.

In some companies where the final products may not be certified the manufacturer will nevertheless insist that all ingredients comply with kosher standards. Furthermore, in this age of rationalization of supply chains, buyers are looking for fewer suppliers that can provide a wider range of ingredients. Those able to offer both kosher and non-kosher ingredients are more likely to win the business.