Achieving Certifications

Being approved for a specific certification can raise your product to a different level in the eyes of the consumer. Having one or multiple certifications attached to your product can also raise your profile as a supplier on RangeMe, for those retailers looking to increase the breadth of their natural, organic, or otherwise certified product selections.

But achieving certification is not always simple, and often involves a lengthy, multi-step process. However, investing the time, energy, and money for the certification that is right for your product can be incredibly beneficial. Consider these points when determining which certifications are right for you:

1. What is involved?

Before pursuing a certification, know what it will cost not just in terms of money, but also in terms of time and how long the process will take and how much manpower and resources you’ll need. Think about how it will affect the pricing of your product once it hits store shelves.

2. Determine which certification is best for your product.

There are a multitude of labels that may be right for your product—Certified Organic, Fair Trade, non-GMO, locally grown, gluten free, just to name a few. Do your research to figure out which certifications would work best for your product. Guidelines for achieving these various certifications can easily be found online, along with the necessary steps and forms available to help you in the process. Review the requirements for the different certifications carefully, and be selective—going after every certification available will only confuse consumers and detrimentally crowd labels.

3. Don’t cut corners.

Follow the necessary steps when pursuing certifications, as well as other necessary permits or product liability insurance so as not to delay getting your product onto store shelves. Product auditors, whose job it is to determine whether or not your product fits with a retailer’s selection, provide retailers with a thorough detailing of your product’s attributes. Having everything in place can potentially help those auditors get your product to shelf more easily and faster. Some larger retailers will even let products bypass the audit if they have certain certifications, such as the one provided by the Global Food Safety Initiative.

No matter which certification you pursue for your product, it is essential to know what the process involves with regard to time, energy, and how the certification will affect your product and consumers down the line.

To explore certification providers on RangeMe, visit RangeMe Services.

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About the Author

Molly Olson is a writer and editor 10+ years of experience working on print and online publications in the CPG space. Her work has appeared multiple national publications, including the Baltimore Sun and Retail Leader. She is a self-proclaimed grocery store nerd and proud of it.