CAFS, Mangaluru bags HACCP certification from Bureau Veritas, Netherland
By Robert D Costa
Bellevision Media Network
Mangaluru, 11 Feb 2015: Casino Air Caterers & Flight Services (CAFS), a leader in the flight catering industry with their state-of-the-art flight kitchen unit located at Kenjar, just a kilometer away from Mangalore International Airport, here was awarded certificate Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) by Bureau Veritas, Netherlands, during the media conference held at their unit, here on Tuesday February 10 at 3.00pm. It has undergone stringent norms and procedures to achieve these quality standards.
CAFS, Mangaluru also accredited by Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), for meeting international standards of health and safety along with tight security protocol as per the guidelines of BCAS.
Bureau Veritas lead manager Vinod Panickar handed over the HACCP certificate to CAFS managing director George Dominic and COO V B Rajan on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, George Dominic said, ‘It’s a milestone event for CAFS, Mangalore to get HACCP certification within 1 year of commencing the operations. It was inaugurated on February 11 2014. Its services are availed by both domestic and international airlines at Mangalore International Airport. CAFS is focusing on tier II cities across India, while the plans are underway to set up flight kitchens at Ahmedabad, Raipur, Lucknow and Pune within 2 years. CAFS has flight kitchens in Kochi, Kozhikode, Chennai, Mangaluru and new facility will be launched at Jaipur in a few months. It costs about Rs 12 to Rs 15 crore to set up a flight kitchen other than land and building costs,’ said George Dominic. He also said, ‘CAFS will foray into local business, by opening its first hi-end CAFS outlet in Mangaluru shortly and there are plans to enter into hospital industry offering world-class services to people who arrive from different continents across globe,’ said George Dominic. He also lauded the professional overseas experience of CAFS, Mangaluru unit head Francis M Aranha and all the staff at the facility in getting the certification from Bureau Veritas within a year of commencement of unit.
Vinod Panickar briefed about the norms in issuance of certificate by Bureau Veritas. He said, ‘The certificate is valid years. The audit will be done once in 6 months, besides in-house daily auditing. There will be announced and surprise audits. HACCP certification is essential for flight kitchen as it deals with highly perishable food items that are consumed by passengers from different continents,’ said Vinod. He also congratulated CAFS in bagging the certification for its long term commitment.
All the dignitaries joined in cutting the cake to celebrate first anniversary of CAFS, Mangaluru.
Mangalore International Airport director Radhakrishnan, Bajpe police sub-inspector Narasimha was present at the dais.
Radhakrishna said that CAFS, Mangaluru is the only flight catering unit to get HACCP certification in city. Meanwhile, it has further scope to increase its daily business as Jet Airways plans to operate Mangaluru – Abu Dhabi flight by end of March 2015. Mangalore International Airport and CAFS are partners in progress, because the former earns about 10 percent on total business generated by CAFS as royalty. He also conveyed best wishes to CAFS in its future endeavor.
The sub-inspector Narasimha inaugurated CCTV surveillance systems that have been installed at the main road of CAFS, Kenjar, here. It was installed by CAFS under social responsibility to keep tab on criminal elements at the location and to overcome any kinds of security lapse. The law enforcement agencies will integrate the facility to their feeders shortly.
Narasimha said the law enforcement agencies have sought the help of private organizations in installing CCTV surveillance systems, while CAFS, Mangaluru has done it on priority and hopes others to follow suit at the earliest. It will help the agencies to monitor the situation at any time and contain any criminal acts.
Francis Aranha thanked the management for placing high trust on his overseas professional expertise and also dedicated staff at CAFS, Mangaluru in achieving milestone of bagging HACCP certification.
V B Rajan compered the programme.