To ensure the highest level of security, we continuously improve our Information Security Management System (ISMS). Each year, KPMG Cert GmbH, a subsidiary of KPMG Deutschland, audits our ISMS. This year, we passed the audit and transitioned seamlessly to the latest version of ISO 27001: the DIN EN ISO/IEC 27001:2022. 

ISO 27001 is the international standard for an organisation’s ISMS. Its purpose is to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and systematically minimise risks. 

An ISO 27001 audit evaluates the implementation of processes and measures according to this standard. The audit involves a review of documentation, an assessment of the management system’s compliance, an on-site inspection, and a verification of ISMS implementation. 

The audit results identify any non-conformities, highlight areas for improvement, and may lead to a follow-up audit if necessary. A successful certification demonstrates that an organisation maintains high-security standards, enhancing trust among customers and business partners. 

A regular training programme ensures that IFS employees stay informed about the latest developments and potential risks in information security. The auditors were particularly impressed by the employees’ commitment to embedding information and data security into their daily routines. Achieving ISO 27001 compliance is a team effort and reflects a significant organisational achievement. 

Special thanks go to our IFS Colleagues Tina Brune, our Quality Management Commissioner, and René Hoffmann, our Information Management Officer, who ensure that we all know and follow the rules and regulations to protect us from cyber threats. 

“In a landscape where customers and other stakeholders demand greater transparency, it is essential for companies to identify and manage associated risks in their supply chains," states Stephan Tromp, IFS Managing Director. "The IFS Supply Chain Processes Check not only verifies that companies have established robust processes to identify risks but also highlights improvement opportunities, ultimately enhancing business resilience and increasing customer trust."

A structured approach to assessing risks 

With emerging challenges and heightened regulatory scrutiny, many enterprises worldwide face significant hurdles in implementing target-oriented risk management within their supply chains. The IFS Supply Chain Processes Check addresses these challenges by providing a systematic assessment of supply chain management systems, helping businesses identify commodity-related risks and facilitating constructive dialogue with supply chain partners.

Validated processes – trusted data 

Key components of the IFS Supply Chain Processes Check include:

• The Commodity List: This comprehensive overview of critical raw materials and ingredients used by the company, their country of origin, and associated risk categories allows for an informed understanding of overall supply chain risks.
• The Validation Module: An assessment by an auditor or assessor evaluates whether the company maintains effective processes for managing supply chain risks. This module can be performed as a stand-alone assessment or combined with the IFS Certification or other audits.

The IFS Supply Chain Processes Check results offer valuable insights into current practices and indicate areas for development, ensuring companies meet both stakeholder expectations and evolving government regulations.

More IFS Supply Chain Solutions to come

The introduction of the IFS Supply Chain Processes Check marks the first product under the new brand, IFS Supply Chain Solutions. Under this brand, we will introduce further process checks and IT tools, all designed to assist companies in managing and monitoring supply chain risks effectively and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and stakeholder demands.

For more information on the IFS Supply Chain Processes Check, 

• please visit the IFS Supply Chain Processes Check webpage or
• download the industry newsletter. 

"After eight years, we decided it was time for an update. We consulted with the industry, retailers, and certification bodies to develop a standard tailored to the specific needs of this industry. We aligned it with the other IFS Standards, optimised the protocol, and introduced a new logo colour. I thank everyone who contributed to realising this new standard version," says IFS Managing Director Stephan Tromp. 

The most significant changes in version 3 are the reduction of the modules from four to two, a leaner protocol with fewer requirements, an updated scoring system, the introduction of voluntary unannounced audits, and better-defined applicability.

Audits to version 3 can start on 1 May 2025 and will become mandatory on 1 November 2025. 

The wholesale industry’s preferred standard 

IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry is our standard for assessing the safety and quality of products and processes of wholesalers, cash & carry businesses, and packing companies. These businesses are an essential link between growers, manufacturers, and the catering industry. The standard supports sites in meeting the growing transparency and traceability demands in the market and contributes to increased efficiency. 

Major players in wholesale and cash & carry, as well as companies packing vegetables, fruits and eggs, use the standard to have their sites audited, thus raising the quality of their services to the next level. Last year, 805 sites passed the audit and received the IFS Certificate. The certificate shows that the certified site is a reliable business partner that handles products in a safe, responsible and professional way. 

Offering a unique support package for certified sites 

IFS offers guidance, including guidelines and various tools, to support businesses in reaching IFS Certification and further enhancing their product safety and quality management. Recognised IFS Consultants can help you implement the requirements and train your staff. Follow the link to the webpage below to learn more about the roadmap to certification and the support for IFS certified sites. 

International recognition

Accreditation is new for the IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry standard. The process with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) for recognition under the sub-scopes of product certification of the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) is in progress. IAF MLA signatories mutually recognise accredited certification. This helps to reduce trade barriers, as accredited certificates are recognised in many markets based on a single accreditation. 

More information 

The standard is available in English on our website. Translations will follow, and we will inform you about them on LinkedIn and in newsletters.

For more details, download the: 

• Industry newsletter about version 3
• IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry 3 Standard
• Updated brochure IFS Scoring System version 2.4

Stay up to date:

• Visit the IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry webpage
• Subscribe to our newsletters
• Follow us on LinkedIn