Ochil Fudge
Founded in 2017 Ochil Fudge Ltd, are an artisan fudge producer dedicated to creating handmade, small-batch fudge using traditional recipes and time-honoured techniques. Every piece is crafted by hand, with a focus on quality, flavour, and authenticity.
Their business has grown steadily over the years and has remained true to their ethos: ‘Growth will never come at the expense of our craft’. Their customers value not only the taste of their fudge but also the care, attention and integrity that go into every batch. By keeping their processes rooted in tradition, they ensure that each piece reflects the quality and character that first inspired them to start making fudge.
What motivated your company to join SALSA?
One of our key motivations was to demonstrate to our customers, especially retailers, wholesalers, and food service providers, that we take food safety seriously. SALSA Approval is widely respected in the industry and will help us build credibility and trust, which is essential as we expand into new markets and supply larger customers.
The process also helped us review and improve our internal systems without compromising the handcrafted nature of our fudge. It gave us access to expert support tailored to small producers, which made the journey both manageable and rewarding.
What have been the main benefits to your business since becoming SALSA Approved?
One of the almost immediate advantages has been the increased confidence it’s given to our team and trade customers. We have always been a professional business but it’s visible to see in both our premises look and our team’s attitude, that we have raised the bar.
Externally, being SALSA Approved, instantly has removed any doubt to our existing trade base, that our production processes meet a recognised standard of food safety and quality, without losing the artisan character of our fudge.
This has opened up opportunities for conversations with some potential, larger, new stockists who require certification as part of their supplier criteria. Before SALSA, we were limited in who we could supply, but now we’re able to have more serious conversations with buyers who wouldn’t have considered us otherwise.
How has SALSA Approval impacted your relationships with customers and suppliers?
SALSA Approval has had a really positive impact on our relationships with both customers and suppliers. For our customers, it’s given them added confidence in our products and processes. Many of them see SALSA as a trusted benchmark for food safety and quality, so being Approved has helped strengthen existing partnerships and opened the door to new ones who require that level of assurance from their suppliers.
It’s also made conversations with potential stockists more straightforward. Rather than having to explain or prove our processes, the SALSA certification speaks for itself. It shows that we take our responsibilities seriously and operate to a recognised standard, which is particularly valuable as a small, artisan business competing with larger producers.
On the supplier side, SALSA Approval has encouraged us to be more structured and consistent in how we manage sourcing, traceability, and record keeping. This has improved communication with our ingredient and packaging suppliers, giving clarity to these partners around the expectations we place on them. This has helped build stronger, more professional relationships with those we rely on to maintain the quality of our fudge.
What advice would you give other small food producers considering SALSA certification?
• Our advice would be to see SALSA as a support tool rather than just a hurdle to clear.
• Start small and steady, don’t feel you need to do everything at once.
• Use the feedback, the auditors aren’t there to catch you out.
• Involve your team, everyone should feel part of the journey.
• Focus on your values, SALSA doesn’t take away your artisan identity, it strengthens it by showing customers and buyers that your craft is backed up with robust food safety.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your journey with SALSA?
We learned is that it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed at the start, the standards can look like a lot to deliver on when you’re a small team. What really helped us was realising we didn’t have to figure it all out on our own. The SALSA resources are clear and practical, our mentor was invaluable, we wouldn’t have got there without her, she was a real partner in this process and was outstanding at guiding us through the process in a way that makes sense for your business.
