Intertek Acquires RQA’s Food Facility Auditing Operations

CHICAGO — Intertek, an international provider of quality and safety services to a wide range of industries, has acquired the food facility auditing operations of RQA, a provider of strategic product development, quality assurance, crisis management and recall services for consumer products.

RQA provides a range of food services, including facility audits on food safety to assess compliance with client’s existing quality assurance programs and/or regulatory requirements, conducting process evaluations, and developing quality assurance systems including both in-depth documentation and operating manuals.

This acquisition will enable the bundling of food auditing services for clients worldwide, the company said.

Under this new collaboration, Intertek will perform an array of audits including good manufacturing practices (GMP), hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP), quality systems, risk assessment, Grocery Manufacturer’s Association (GMA-SAFE), client protocol, due diligence and Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

Intertek has been engaged in various business endeavors with RQA since 2007.

“As the rising demand for food auditing services continues to grow in the U.S. and globally, we are making food auditing resources available to clients across the globe more centralized and accessible by housing all solutions under one roof at Intertek,” said Dr. Jochen Zoller, president of food services for Intertek.

“RQA is pleased to embark on this journey together to improve auditing services worldwide for food retailers, manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers in direct response to an increase in food regulations worldwide,” said Larry Platt, president of RQA.