Ingredient Manufacturer Secures New Customers Thanks to Technical Support
A Cardiff-based ingredient manufacturer has secured new wholesale customers thanks to technical support delivered through the Welsh Government's HELIX Programme.
Aromada, which produces a range of mirror glazes, jams and jellies that are supplied to the baking industry, secured SALSA food safety certification following support from ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Founded by Samir Bougaci and Motaz Dadou in 2019, Aromada combines the pair's experience in ingredient manufacture and luxury patisserie. Motaz previously worked in development for a European ingredient manufacturer whilst Samir is a trained baker who also owns a Cardiff-based celebration cake company.
To grow their business, Samir and Motaz decided that they would need to secure SALSA certification. SALSA is one of the most widely recognised food safety certification schemes in the UK and it enables smaller manufacturers to demonstrate that they are operating to industry-recognised food safety standards.
As neither Samir nor Motaz had experience of SALSA certification, they approached the food safety experts at ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre for support through the HELIX Programme. The Welsh Government funded programme provides funded technical support to Welsh food and drink companies.
Working closely with a ZERO2FIVE technologist, Aromada were mentored to develop their food safety management procedures and paperwork in line with the requirements of SALSA. This included areas such as cleaning, pest control, traceability, incident management, labelling and product shelf-life.
ZERO2FIVE also delivered a range of bespoke training on subjects including the HACCP approach to food safety, allergen management and supplier approval.
Aromada successfully passed their SALSA audit in January 2025 and securing this certification has opened up much bigger wholesale markets for the company, both in Wales and across the UK. The company has already secured an order from BAKO Wales, a co-operative that supplies bakery ingredients across Wales.
Samir Bougaci, Director, Aromada, said:
'We're incredibly grateful to ZERO2FIVE for their invaluable support throughout our journey. Their guidance with our hygiene paperwork and their expert assistance were key in helping us achieve our SALSA certification. Their team was always approachable, knowledgeable, and truly committed to our success – we genuinely couldn't have done it without them.'
Professor David Lloyd, Director of ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, said:
'Food safety certification schemes like SALSA are important to many manufacturers as they are often required to become a supplier of national and regional retailers, wholesalers and foodservice providers. If you're interested in securing certification for your company, then I encourage you to get in touch to find out more about the funded support which we can offer.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Live
an hour ago
- North Wales Live
Hard border between Wales and England to halt deadly disease could be 'costly and futile'
Livestock farmers in Wales face hard border arrangements with England in what some believe is a futile attempt to halt the advance of a deadly disease. The industry fears being crippled by the need to test and licence vast numbers of sheep and cattle when they cross the border into England. Unlike England, Wales is still free of bluetongue, a viral disease that cause ulcers around the animal's mouth and face. In the Netherlands, tens of thousands of sheep have died and British farmers fear worse could happen in the UK. In an attempt to contain the virus' spread, an England-wide restricted zone (RZ) is to be imposed from July 1. In practice this means existing movement controls will be eased with farmer encouraged to use new bluetongue vaccines instead. The Welsh Government is reluctant to follow suit, fearing a freedom-of-movement regime will hasten bluetongue's spread into the country. Instead, Cardiff wants to keep the virus at bay 'for as long as we can' and so has opted not to apply an RZ in the county. But the Welsh farming sector has warned the implications could be 'catastrophic' for cross-border trade. Some 550 cross-border agri businesses and straddle the Wales-England border and each year tens of thousands of animals are shipped out to livestock markets. It also has major implications for July's Royal Welsh Show, Europe's largest agri showcase and the biggest annual event in Wales. Livestock exhibitors from England and Scotland will now be unable to attend, slashing the cattle entry by 40%. Refunds are being processed. Urging Cardiff to align Wales with England, the industry has branded the looming arrangements as both 'a futile endeavour and wholly impractical'. FUW president Ian Rickman said farmers' first instincts were to keep any disease out of Wales – but in this case the solution could be economically disastrous. Mr Rickman said midges carrying the disease are likely to blow into Wales regardless of England's RZ. He said the insects 'do not respect any such boundaries' and the RZ will hasten the spread of bluetongue to Wales anyway. 'The on-farm practicalities involved with adhering to this policy position brings with it a wealth of barriers and complications,' he said. 'The mechanics of issuing licences in a timely manner, arranging and conducting pre-movement sampling and testing, co-ordinating haulage and the extortionate costs and disruption to cross-border holdings and trade – it is feared that the decision to hold back the tide will be entirely unattainable and impractical.' While Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) poses a serious threat to cattle, sheep, goats deer and alpacas across the UK, it does not affect humans or compromise food safety. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said he had agonised over the decision. On balance, it was the lesser of two evils, he said, adding: 'I cannot in all conscience invite Bluetongue into Wales on 1st July through aligning with the RZ in England. 'I am unwilling to risk the uncertain impact of the disease in livestock dense areas like the Welsh borders. I am also extremely concerned about the economic and farmer wellbeing impacts of dealing with sick animals, and the livestock productivity and fertility losses associated with severe Bluetongue, as observed in many affected European countries.' By setting up border arrangements, it's hoped this will buy time for Welsh farmers to vaccinate their animals against the disease. If Bluetongue does arrive in Wales anyway, disease controls will be implemented. Being a fast-changing situation, Mr Irranca-Davies pledged to 'adapt to the evolving disease situation'. NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said Welsh farmers were 'extremely worried' about the disease - but also about the containment and testing strategy. He said: 'We have significant concerns about the lack of resources and testing capacity within the laboratories and APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) given the significant amount of stock that move across the border from England to Wales for management, welfare and trading purposes. 'We understand that going forward the costs of testing will be borne by the farmer, which will cause a huge increase to the cost of trading. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox 'We are about to enter an extremely important time of the year in the farming calendar, with many farmers looking to trade breeding stock and store stock ahead of the autumn and winter months. 'For many herds and flocks, the opportunity to trade breeding stock, both those looking to purchase or sell stock, only comes once a year and this trade is critical. Welsh Government must ensure that a sustainable solution is found as soon as possible.'
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Gregor Poynton MP urges Scottish Government to take decisive action to protect jobs at Alexander Dennis
Gregor Poynton, Member of Parliament for the Livingston constituency, has today written to the First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, and the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, urging them to take immediate and decisive action to safeguard the future of bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis and the livelihoods of its workers. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Mr Poynton joins Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar and the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, in challenging the Scottish Government over its handling of the crisis facing this major employer. The move follows the announcement that Alexander Dennis, based in Falkirk, intends to shift manufacturing operations to England—placing hundreds of skilled Scottish jobs at risk. In recent years, Alexander Dennis has played a critical role in delivering low- and zero-emission buses for public transport networks across the UK. The company has supplied over 160 vehicles for Greater Manchester's Bee Network, while the Scottish Government has placed an order for just 44 buses out of a potential 252 under its own zero-emission bus scheme. The majority of these government-funded orders have instead been awarded to manufacturers based outside Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In his letter to the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary, Mr Poynton stated: 'Alexander Dennis is one of the most significant and reputable employers within the Central Belt, and the potential loss of these highly skilled jobs would have a profound impact on local communities, including many constituents within the Livingston constituency. Lothian Bus 'The transport industry is a cornerstone of our economy and an essential service in the daily lives of people across Scotland. Supporting a Scottish-based manufacturer of low-emission and zero-emission buses aligns not only with economic priorities but also with our shared goals around sustainability, skills retention, and fair work. 'Beyond the immediate impact on jobs, we must also consider the wider ramifications for Scotland's industrial future. The loss of another major employer represents a setback for our national economy and undermines the skills and experience we have worked so hard to foster. It is vital that a comprehensive strategy is put in place to support the workforce, safeguard jobs, and prevent further industrial decline.' Mr Poynton emphasised the far-reaching implications of further industrial decline for communities across the Central Belt, particularly in Livingston, where many constituents live within commuting distance of the Falkirk-based company. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Commenting further, Mr Poynton said: 'We must act swiftly and decisively to support Alexander Dennis and secure the future of bus manufacturing in Scotland. Gregor Poynton MP at Lothian Buses 'It is astounding that a company so clearly aligned with the Scottish Government's policies on net zero, green jobs, and sustainable transport is not being prioritised in public procurement. Instead, contracts are being awarded to firms based outside of Scotland, risking the future of our own workforce. 'I will continue to work with my colleagues across Scottish Labour to apply pressure on the Scottish Government to act urgently. We must do all we can to protect the jobs, livelihoods, and financial security of workers in Livingston, Falkirk, and across Scotland.' The letter and Mr Poynton's call to action come at a time of growing concern over job losses and industrial decline across Scotland, particularly following the recent announcement of the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery. With another major employer at risk, the need for a coherent, jobs-first industrial strategy has never been more pressing.
Business News Wales
an hour ago
- Business News Wales
Managing Supply Chain Risk Is Key to Building Resilience
In food and drink manufacturing, the ability to manage supply chain risk is a central part of building resilience. We often talk about resilience in broad terms, but much of it comes down to the practicalities of where you source from, how you plan production, and how well you understand the risks embedded in your systems. At BIC Innovation, we see this every day as we work with Welsh businesses and those further afield that are navigating increasing complexity and pressure. Consumer tastes can shift quickly, often driven by pricing, legislation or taxation. In some cases, those shifts are influenced by external factors such as tariffs or trade disruption. These kinds of changes can have a direct impact on where you source ingredients or packaging, and on how your business operates. Trying to hedge against those risks by locking into big, long-term procurement deals can sometimes expose you to cost spikes or supply disruption. Instead, a more flexible approach – sourcing from multiple suppliers or spreading purchasing over time – can soften those cliff-edge impacts. Avoiding a concentration of risk is key. Over time, the sector has tended to consolidate suppliers in pursuit of economies of scale. But that approach can create vulnerabilities. If one supplier has a problem, the knock-on effects can be significant. By contrast, working with a broader base of suppliers – including local ones – can increase agility and reduce exposure. It also improves your bargaining position. In Wales, we grow certain crops and proteins particularly well. Oats and grass-fed livestock, for example, offer strong foundations for food production, and where possible, it makes sense to make more of what we use here rather than rely on distant imports. Innovation doesn't have to originate inside your business. We often encourage manufacturers to look to their supply chain for ideas. Ingredient suppliers, equipment providers and technical specialists can all bring innovation to the table. The important thing is staying connected to that ecosystem so you can pick up new ideas and put them to work in ways that benefit your product and your customer. Just-in-time supply models, which were once standard practice, can now be too vulnerable. Any disruption can lead to delays or empty shelves. Instead, better planning tools can help businesses build a degree of flexibility without holding excessive stock. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, for example, can support more accurate forecasting and efficient production schedules. That not only helps reduce waste, but it can also lower energy costs – something that matters more than ever. Packaging also has a role to play. Using better barrier materials can extend shelf life, giving businesses more buffer in the supply chain. That makes premium products more viable and can help protect product quality during distribution. Small efficiencies like these, when combined, make a tangible difference. Context is important when thinking about risk. Not every threat is equally likely or equally serious. By breaking down risks and focusing on those with the greatest potential impact, businesses can take manageable steps to improve resilience. Accreditation can support this process. Working towards best practice doesn't just strengthen your processes – it can also unlock new markets. Increasingly, larger customers such as supermarkets expect suppliers to demonstrate resilience across areas like cybersecurity, carbon management and production consistency. They want confidence that a business can scale reliably and maintain standards. Looking to the future, local sourcing will become more important. So too will the need for businesses to understand their supply chains in more depth and detail. Downstream customers will expect resilience to be built in. This could present opportunities for Welsh businesses, particularly where they can offer a reliable, local alternative to imported products. But it will also mean taking on more of the processing and manufacturing ourselves, rather than importing ready-made ingredients. That may introduce additional costs, so planning and budgeting will need to become more sophisticated to keep businesses competitive. Resilience is not just about withstanding shocks – it's about being ready to take advantage of opportunities when they arise. For food and drink manufacturers, that means embedding supply chain thinking into every part of the business. It's not always easy, but it is increasingly essential. John Taylerson talks about this and more in the BIC Innovation podcast episode Risk and Resilience in the Food & Drink Sector – Insights from BIC Innovation . Listen to the podcast here
