SQF Certification Consulting for Food & Beverage
We handle the full audit lifecycle — from first-time SQF or GFSI certification to sustaining audit-ready status year-round, and recovering from a failed audit when the stakes are highest.
What does an SQF consultant do for a food and beverage manufacturer?
An SQF consultant guides a food and beverage manufacturer through the full SQF certification lifecycle — a gap assessment against the current SQF Code (Edition 9), building the food safety management system, preparing for the initial audit, and sustaining certification year after year. Redline Infinity handles it end to end, including SQF Edition 9 gap assessments, mock audits, and audit recovery after a failed or high-risk audit.
The goal is simple: get certified, stay certified, and recover fast when an audit puts revenue at risk.
The whole audit lifecycle.
SQF Certification Readiness
- SQF Code Edition 9/10 gap assessments — Module 2, Module 11, and others as applicable
- Non-conformance classification (Major, Minor, Critical) with prioritized action plans
- SQF system development — food safety fundamentals, food safety and quality plans
- SQF Practitioner designation support
- Pre-audit readiness verification and mock audits
Other GFSI Scheme Support
- BRC Global Standards — gap assessment, program development, audit prep
- FSSC 22000 — ISO 22000 foundation, sector-specific PRPs, additional requirements
- Scheme comparison and selection guidance for your market and customers
- Certification body selection and audit scheduling coordination
Audit Lifecycle Management
- Initial certification preparation — first-time audit readiness
- Surveillance audit preparation between certification cycles
- Recertification prep — code edition changes, scope changes, program evolution
- Unannounced audit readiness — sustaining audit-ready status year-round
- Multi-site and multi-scope coordination
Audit Recovery & Remediation
- Failed audit response — root cause analysis, CAPA, timeline management
- Critical non-conformance remediation and re-audit preparation
- Customer audit failure recovery — beyond GFSI requirements
- Systemic diagnosis — documentation vs. implementation vs. cultural gaps
Internal Audit & Management Review
- Internal audit program development per SQF / GFSI codes
- Internal auditor training and qualification
- Management review facilitation — structure, inputs, outputs, action tracking
- Outsourced internal auditor services on a recurring basis
Not sure where to start?
Most facilities begin with a gap assessment against the code they're accountable to. We'll tell you exactly where you stand and what it takes to pass.
Book a gap assessmentSQF & GFSI Certification FAQ
What does an SQF consultant do for a food and beverage manufacturer?
An SQF consultant runs the whole certification lifecycle — gap assessment against the SQF Code Edition 9, building the food safety management system, mock audits, initial-certification prep, and sustaining audit-ready status year-round — plus audit recovery when a certification or customer audit goes wrong.
How long does it take to get SQF certified for the first time?
It depends where you start. A facility with solid programs can be audit-ready in a few months; one starting from scratch usually needs longer to build and mature the system before an initial audit. A gap assessment gives you an honest, dated timeline.
What is SQF Edition 9, and how do we prepare for a gap assessment?
SQF Edition 9 is the current version of the SQF Code. We assess your facility against the applicable modules, classify non-conformances (minor, major, critical), and hand you a prioritized action plan showing exactly what it takes to pass.
What is the difference between SQF and other GFSI schemes like BRCGS or FSSC 22000?
GFSI is the benchmark; SQF, BRCGS, and FSSC 22000 are all GFSI-recognized schemes. SQF is common in North America. We help you choose the right scheme for your customers and market, then get and stay certified to it.
Can you help our plant recover from a failed SQF or customer audit?
Yes — audit recovery is a core service. We run root-cause analysis on the findings, build and implement corrective actions, prepare you for re-audit, and diagnose whether the gap is documentation, implementation, or culture so it doesn't recur.
Do you train or provide the SQF Practitioner for our facility?
We support and train your in-house SQF Practitioner and can act in an interim or advisory capacity while your team builds the capability to own it.
How much does SQF certification consulting cost?
It depends on your starting point, facility size, and scope — first-time certification differs from sustaining or recovery work. A gap assessment scopes the effort and gives you a clear quote; contact us to start.
Pursuing certification — or recovering from a setback?
Either way, a gap assessment tells you exactly where you stand and what it takes to pass.