Alosra Supermarket, part of the BMMI Group of Companies, has become the first in its industry in Bahrain to implement an Integrated Management System (IMS) and be awarded international certification for its effort.

IMS incorporates all the common elements of its management system for quality (ISO9001), occupational health and safety (OHSAS 18001) environment (ISO14001) and food safety (ISO 22000), reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

The expanding supermarket group is the first in Bahrain to receive this certification from Bureau Veritas International, the international standard certification body.

"This represents a public commitment to customer satisfaction and employee welfare, together with a pledge to the environment and the safety of food products that it manufactures and distributes," said Alosra general manager Jaffer Al Asfoor.

"This is something we decided to do, it was not mandated but we believe it is important to have this to meet the needs we believe our customers have a right to expect.

"We are committed to improving all our operations and we are grateful to Tamkeen and its Jawad scheme in supporting us in these certifications."

ISO 22000 governs food safety and includes all aspects involved in preparing a raw ingredient for either further sale or immediate consumption; it administrates the progression of a food item through the different stages of production, processing, storage, distribution, handling and finally consumption as a finished food item. In short, every step from farm to fork!

"It is Alosra's aim to consistently satisfy the needs and expectations of its customers," Al Asfoor added.

"It endeavours to guarantee that its products are of the highest standards and are always safe to use.

"The group's commitment to on-going training and employee development is proof to its customers, auditors and regulators that Alosra and the BMMI Group take IMS seriously and want to continue winning hearts and minds by delivering exceptional products and services.

"Through various training programmes, Alosra and BMMI are not only strengthening their workforce by arming employees with new skills and information, but are also ensuring the wellbeing of IMS."

Alosra currently has three outlets in Bahrain but will open a fourth in Riffa shortly and a fifth in Juffair before the end of the year.

It has also done research into the Saudi Arabian market and is looking to develop in the eastern province as well as considering further expansion across the GCC, the report added.-TradeArabia News Service