For the seventh time in as many years, MGP’s specialty wheat protein and starch facility in Atchison, KS, has achieved the highest audit rating for food and beverage safety from the distinguished British Retail Consortium (BRC).

The facility earned a Grade AA, which is the top of the BRC’s AA, A, B, C and D rating scale.  Accomplishing this score can only occur if five or fewer non-conformances are cited out of 256 total audit items. For the second straight year, MGP’s ingredients facility had no non-conformances.

“Achieving the BRC’s highest score and having zero non-conformances exemplify MGP’s strong commitment to consistently producing the highest quality products,” said MGP president and CEO Gus Griffin. “Our employees are to be applauded for their individual and collective efforts to continually meet safety standards for the well-being of consumers and our communities, as well as the environment in which they work each day.”

David Whitmer, corporate director of quality and alcohol R&D and innovation, commented similarly. “Consecutive Grade AA BRC ratings are certainly a source of pride,” he said.  “Completing back-to-back BRC audits with no non-conformances provides even more reason to celebrate,” he added.

Each year since undergoing its initial BRC audit in 2013, the company’s Atchison distillery has also achieved the BRC’s top grade. The same is true with results of annual BRC audits that have been conducted at MGP’s distillery in Lawrenceburg, Ind., since 2014.

“The repeated great BRC audit scores at all MGP facilities demonstrate everyone’s dedication to continuous improvement and the discipline to firmly adhere to high quality specifications and guidelines,” Whitmer said. “BRC certification provides assurance and confidence to customers that our company is committed to food and beverage safety for consumers around the world.”    

The BRC food and beverage safety audit is an approved standard under the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). The GFSI benchmarks food and beverage safety standards for third-party audits that can be conducted and recognized worldwide.