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The NSFConsulting GroupTransforming food safety consulting

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“Our goal was to gather the undisputed experts

in each area of food safety from around the

world so that we can provide the most rapid

and efficient access to the most well informed

and experienced brains in the business. As the

global leader in food and water safety, we felt

we had a responsibility to assemble a team with

the most depth, the most experience and a

lifelong dedication to the protection of our

food supply.”

David Edwards, Managing Director, NSF Consulting Group

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Consumers, industry and government have always looked to NSF International for solutions to their risks and emerging issues in the food and water supply chain. Now, with the creation of the NSF Consulting Group we have brought about a step change in the provision of effective and sustainable consultancy responses to our clients’ needs.

Value and efficiency

In the global food supply chain, there are many talented practitioners, regulators, scientists and academics, helping to improve standards of consumer food safety around the world. The NSF Consulting Group harnesses the power of that individual and collective talent, to create a powerful platform that is underpinned by the expertise, resources and innovation of one of the world’s leading forces in food safety.

When you choose to work with our consultants you can be sure of world class solutions from a high quality, flexible resource, operating in the most cost efficient manner – and guaranteed by the integrity and service of NSF International.

New challenges,new solutions

The NSF Consulting Group has been designed to meet emerging needs in food safety. As challenges such as food fraud and other serious supply chain risks manifest themselves on a global scale, the traditional model of consulting and advisory services in food safety can no longer offer adequate responses.

The requirement is for a strategic global overview that also has the ability to pinpoint and remove risk in the supply chain at the most local level.

The NSF platform fills the evident gap between the large scale management consultancies and the many practitioners doing valuable work on a small scale. With its outstanding resources which include laboratory testing and analysis, technical teams and IT support, the NSF Consulting Group offers the industry a unique armoury of expertise.

As importantly, it creates for the first time a real ability to share and replicate across international boundaries the innovative solutions and best practice that are emerging all the time through our industry experts – providing new solutions tonew challenges.

The NSF Consulting Groupa new concept in food safety consulting

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Strong and flexible

All our consultants have been selected by NSF to provide a comprehensive range of technical and business expertise across the spectrum of food safety. The NSF Consulting Group matches and builds groups of consultants to provide the optimal response to the project in hand.

Specifically we have handpicked a teamwhich is capable of tackling the most pressing strategic issues facing the food industry today, including the foremost experts in food fraud, functional foods, and behavioural food safety.

In each region our experts have direct understanding of those markets and can advise and lead appropriately. However, all our consultants have shared access to the combined expertise of the group and are expected to consult and peer review their work internally.

The NSF Consulting Group provides the knowledge sharing tools and networking resources to ensure that the best minds are available at all times on all our project work, wherever in the world. In this way we ensure that our clients get the best solutions, based on the latest expert thinking, however large or small the project.

Individual expertiseOur consultants are experts in their fields and passionate about the work they do and the industry they are in. Why would such consultants, by definition successful and confident in their own fields, wish to be part of the NSF Consulting Group? Because of the superb support and project opportunities we are able to provide, with the flexibility to flourish within the Group using the resources and tools on offer, while still operating their own successful practices.

The NSF Consulting Groupa powerful platform

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“The core of our service lies in the calibre

of the consultants we attract. To attract

exceptional talent we recognise we have to

have an exceptional offer.”

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Foresight and purpose

NSF has built its reputation for quality, integrity and innovation on its technical expertise, commercial understanding and ability to think creatively in search of solutions for our clients.NSF has always worked closely with global retailers, manufacturers and the agriculture industry, as well as with government and influential public and trade bodies. We have used this unparalleled experience to develop new models and tools to drive standards forward and provide safety and brand protection. The Group will be addressing the most significant and emerging themes of today, focussing on:

Supply chain

With food fraud currently costing the global food industry an estimated $49bn annually*, it is a massive and growing problem that undermines consumer confidence and brand integrity.

Food safety as a contributor to profit

Too often food safety requirements are seen as a cost, but active engagement with food safety can help drive profit and/or deliver higher levels of safety at lower cost.

Organisational culture

This is the driving force that delivers sustainable standards compliance, protects brand value and engages employee commitment.

Crisis management

The rate of crisis escalation through the power of social and other media is now exponential. All the more reason to understand consumer psychology and the latest thinking in consumer risk prediction.

* Source: John Spink, director of the Packaging for Food and Product

Protection Initiative at Michigan State University, US.

Behavioural food safety

A developing area which recognises how critical human behaviour is to the future of sustainable employee standards and compliance with regulatory based safety systems like HACCP.

Quantifying risks to create

brand protection

An essential component for corporate understanding of food safety risks within a wider context and the business environment.

Functional foods

Where pharmaceuticals meet food. A sector which is growing faster than the existing regulatory frameworks, creating complex issues of legality and understanding.

The NSF Consulting Groupthought leadership

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the expert consultancy models and tools developed by NSF and given access to the latest training and educational resources. Networking tools allow them to communicate and share their experience, ideas and opinions.

All our project work is overseen and directed by the central NSF Consulting Group teams, who are responsible for delivery and quality management.

Driving quality through industry leadership

The NSF Consulting Group is not just a technically expert resource. It is a catalyst for industry development. As well as fulfilling specific projects and establishing soundtechnical and commercial solutions for our clients, our consultants contribute to and lead industry debate about the future of food and beverage safety.

The NSF Consulting Group regularly publishes informative case studies, bulletins and journals for industry readers, as well as staging webinars, conferences and summit meetings on important current topics.

Nanotechnology

New technologies, particularly nanotechnology, have the potential to improve product safety, enhance shelf life and reduce wastage, but there are challenges too. Our scientists and consultants will help you quantify and predict the risks involved and potential adverse consumer reaction.

Resources and integrity NSF is widely recognised for its scientific and technical expertise in the health and environmental sciences. We operate more than 165,000 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratory space, serving companies in more than 150 countries worldwide. Our 1,200 staff include microbiologists, toxicologists, chemists, engineers, environmental and public health professionals.

We are putting all this expertise at the disposal of our consultants. They are empowered with

“The driving force of the NSF Consulting Group is to take

food safety forward throughout the supply chain – protecting

consumers and brands in a way that supports commercial

objectives and creates value in the business.”

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NSF Consulting Groupconsultinggroup@nsf.org

+44 (0) 1993 885600www.nsf.org

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Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA

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