The blog

Food safety insights for founders

Practical guidance on HACCP, FSSC 22000, SANS 10330, and building food safety systems that actually work for small and growing food businesses in South Africa.

Resources

Basic vs Intermediate: Which Figuro Food Safety System Does Your Business Need?

Not sure whether to start with the Basic or Intermediate system? This plain-language comparison helps you choose based on where your business is right now and where it needs to go.

Read article →
Resources

What's Inside the Figuro Intermediate Food Safety System?

A breakdown of the Intermediate System — 26 audit-ready templates, all 11 PRPs, a full operational control cycle, and a food safety culture programme. Built for businesses supplying retailers or pursuing FSSC 22000.

Read article →
Resources

What's Inside the Figuro Basic Food Safety System?

A plain-language breakdown of what you get in the Basic System — 17 audit-ready templates, 5 consultant guides, and everything a small food business needs to meet GFSI, SANS 10330, and BRCGS Start! requirements.

Read article →
Retail

What South Africa's major retailers actually require from food suppliers

Woolworths, SPAR, Shoprite, Pick n Pay, and Boxer each have specific food safety requirements. Here is exactly what each retailer expects — and what documentation you need to get listed.

Read article →
Certification

GFSI Global Markets Programme: the compliance pathway built for small SA food producers

GFSI Global Markets was designed for businesses that are not ready for full certification yet. Here is what Basic and Intermediate each require, how they map to SA retailer expectations, and the documents you need at each level.

Read article →
HACCP

How to Write a HACCP Plan for a Small Food Business in South Africa

Not sure where to start with your HACCP plan? This step-by-step guide walks small food businesses and cottage producers through every stage of building a HACCP plan in plain, jargon-free language — no prior food safety training needed.

Read article →
HACCP

SANS 10330 Hazard Analysis: Product Description Guide (Stage 2)

A step-by-step guide to completing Stage 2 of your SANS 10330 hazard analysis — the product description phase that sets the foundation for your entire HACCP plan.

Read article ?
FSSC 22000

FSSC 22000 vs HACCP: Which Standard Is Right for Your Food Business?

How South African food manufacturers can use digital tools to simplify FSSC 22000 compliance — without expensive consultants or complicated software.

Read article ?
SANS 10330

SANS 10330 Food Safety Team: How to Build Your Team (Even with Limited Resources)

Your food safety team is a HACCP requirement — but what if you're a small business? Here's how to structure your team when you're working with limited resources.

Read article ?
Compliance

HACCP Compliance Steps: A Practical Checklist for SA Food Businesses

A practical, step-by-step checklist to HACCP compliance for South African food businesses — from pre-requisite programmes to your first audit.

Read article ?
SANS 10330

What is SANS 10330:2020? The Complete Guide to South Africa's HACCP Standard

Everything food businesses need to know about South Africa's HACCP standard — what it requires, who it applies to, and how to build a compliant system.

Read article ?
Small Business

Boost Your Food Business: Turning Food Safety Into a Competitive Advantage

Food safety compliance isn't just a regulatory box to tick — it's one of the highest-return investments a food business can make. Here's the numbers.

Read article ?
HACCP

The GFSI Basic Documentation Set: What Every Food Business Needs

A breakdown of the core documentation every GFSI-aligned food safety system must have — and how to build yours from scratch.

Read article ?
HACCP

5 Ways HACCP Training Pays for Itself in Your Food Business

HACCP training isn't a cost — it's an investment. Here are five concrete ways HACCP knowledge pays dividends for food founders and their teams.

Read article ?
Small Business

Managing Cash Flow in a Food Business: What Nobody Tells You

Cash flow is the silent killer of small food businesses. Here's a practical guide to managing it — from production costs to retailer payment terms.

Read article ?
Compliance

A Guide to Food Safety Certification for South African Businesses

Everything you need to know about food safety certification in South Africa — standards, costs, timelines, and how to choose the right path.

Read article ?
FSSC 22000

HACCP vs FSSC 22000 — Which Is Right for My Business?

A plain-language comparison of HACCP and FSSC 22000 to help South African food businesses choose the standard that fits where they are right now.

Read article ?
Compliance

GFSI Certification and Operational Control: What You Must Document

A breakdown of the operational control documentation required for GFSI certification — and how to build a system that survives an audit.

Read article ?
Small Business

Don't Let Your Food Business Fail: The Systems That Keep You Trading

Most small food businesses that fail do so for the same reasons. Here's what to put in place — before it becomes a crisis.

Read article ?