Stampede Meat Inc., a producer of sous vide products, is announcing its latest safety achievement after three of its plants received AA+ ratings from Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standards, or BRCGS, a trade association that provides food safety and quality certification.
Stampede's plants in Bridgeview, Ill., Oak Lawn, Ill., and Sunland Park, N.M., were selected for unannounced audits from the BRCGS in 2023. The AA rating earned by Stampede is the highest possible score from the certification program, while the plus sign indicates a bonus for the unannounced audit. These three facilities have earned the AA rating every year since 2020, and each has scored at least an A for the past 10 years. The Stampede North facility also achieved an AA+ with its first unannounced audit last year. Stampede's new Georgia location spent this year transitioning over to the BRCGS system and received an A rating on their first-ever BRCGS audit. All Stampede facilities will be audited to identical high standards. BRCGS standards are important because they are either accepted or required by 70% of the top 10 global retailers, 50% of the top 25 global manufacturers and 60% of the top 10 global quick-service restaurants.