For small-scale food producers, building robust food safety is essential. At the same time, the systems and resources available to larger manufacturers do not always reflect the realities of smaller businesses. IFS Local was developed to provide these producers with a practical and structured approach to strengthening food safety and product compliance.
In June 2026, Berlin-based food producer Spicy Dju Made by J. Scholz successfully completed the first IFS Local Check. Founder Jaron Scholz and Torsten Michalski of Quant Qualitätssicherung GmbH, part of the Tentamus Group, who carried out the check, shared their experience of the process and the practical insights it provided.
From a family recipe to growing retail ambitions
Spicy Dju manufactures fresh, chilled, and handmade spice sauces and dips. As founder and owner, Jaron Scholz oversees product development, production, and sales. His two products, Firestarter and Omen, are based on a Yemeni family recipe and made with fresh ingredients, including chilli, coriander, garlic, and spices, without preservatives or flavour enhancers. Firestarter has also received a Great Taste Award in the UK.
As the business developed, Scholz set himself a clear goal: to make Spicy Dju available in more supermarkets and across more parts of Berlin. To support that ambition, he wanted to demonstrate to potential retail partners that his company managed food safety systematically and professionally. This is where IFS Local came in.
Designed specifically for small-scale and local food producers such as micro-enterprises, family-owned businesses, and artisanal producers, IFS Local provides a structured, practical approach to meeting essential food safety, hygiene and product compliance requirements while keeping administrative effort to a minimum.
Turning requirements into everyday routines
For Scholz, preparing for the check meant taking a close look at how food safety was handled throughout the operation.Over several months, he implemented his quality and food safety principles, supported by targeted training in IFS Local, HACCP and food hygiene.
Building on this foundation, he established a comprehensive hazard analysis and documented routines covering cleaning and disinfection, traceability, pest monitoring, equipment maintenance, temperature control and product specifications.
However, the aim was not simply to have the right documentation in place for the check, but to ensure that the processes reflected everyday operations and were consistently applied and refined in practice.
This practical focus is also central to IFS Local. The check focuses on implementation at the individual production site, and the guidance helps companies determine how to implement the requirements according to the nature, risks, processes, and products of their specific operations.
A constructive check on an equal footing
After several months of preparation, Spicy Dju was ready for the on-site check with Quant Qualitätssicherung GmbH. As part of the Tentamus Group, Quant combines local expertise with access to an international network of specialised companies and laboratories. It had also supported Jaron Scholz through training and further education beforehand.
Scholz describes the experience as thorough, constructive and on an equal footing. During the check, the assessor reviewed the production processes and the implementation of food safety and quality measures in detail. Rather than simply identifying deviations, Scholz says the check was clearly supportive in nature, with concrete, practical guidance on how individual aspects could be improved. As a sole proprietor responsible for production, quality management and sales, he found this exchange at least as valuable as the result itself.
From the assessor’s perspective, this advisory approach is one of the strengths of IFS Local:
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The great advantage of the IFS Local Check is its advisory approach. The check provides a practical picture of where the company currently stands and, through the action plan, creates a basis for targeted further improvement. Torsten Michalski |
What the check changed for Spicy Dju
For Spicy Dju, the outcome provided both confirmation and clear direction. The company had established a sound basis for its food safety, while also identifying specific areas where implementation could be made more consistent. The subsequent action plan gave Scholz a clear structure for addressing these findings within defined timeframes. All three requirement areas included in the check were completed successfully.
The impact is also visible in everyday operations. Cleaning, production, monitoring, temperature checks and traceability now follow established, documented routines. For Scholz, this has brought greater clarity and structure to the way the business operates.
Just as importantly, the successful check gives business partners independent, verifiable evidence that food safety is implimented consistently and responsibly. For Spicy Dju, this supports the ambition that first prompted the company to be assessed to IFS Local: building confidence in conversations with food retailers and creating a stronger foundation for future growth.
A stronger foundation for what comes next
Spicy Dju’s experience shows how IFS Local can support small-scale food producers in strengthening food safety in ways that reflect their specific operations. An important part of this is the practical guidance provided during the check and the resulting action plan.
As the first food producer to successfully complete an IFS Local Check, Spicy Dju has reached an important milestone. More importantly for Scholz, the experience has helped embed food safety more firmly into the way the business operates, providing a solid foundation for its next steps in the Berlin retail market.
We thank Jaron Scholz of Spicy Dju Made by J. Scholz and Torsten Michalski of Quant Qualitätssicherung GmbH for sharing their experiences.
About the companies
Learn more about Spicy Dju Made by J. Scholz and Quant Qualitätssicherung GmbH, part of the Tentamus Group:
- Spicy Dju Made by J. Scholz website
- Quant Qualitätssicherung GmbH website
- Tentamus Group GmbH website
Learn more about IFS Local
Find out more about IFS Local and the resources available to support your preparation: