A WORCESTERSHIRE brewery, based in the Teme Valley and known for its craft ales, has received the Safe and Local Supplier Approval (SALSA) accreditation award for the second year running.

The Teme Valley Brewery at the Talbot Pub, Knightwick, was set up in 1997 to brew beer for the pub and has expanded its production and outlets over the years and sells to pubs as well as specialist off-licences and shops.

The SALSA certification is an independently written and assessed food safety standard which is only issued to producers who make safe and legal food and are committed to continually meeting the requirements of SALSA.

As well as acting as a guarantee that all of the brewery’s procedures meet and exceed legal requirements, the accreditation means that, while continuing to supply real ales to a large number of local pubs and shops, the brewery is able to supply to national retailers such as the Co-op and Waitrose who require SALSA certification from their small suppliers.

Head brewer Chris Gooch said the brewery worked hard to ensure that it was able to demonstrate to SALSA auditors that it complied with its standards.

He said: “Complying with every aspect of the SALSA standard has taken a great deal of work from everyone in the brewery.

“There is a real sense of achievement knowing that we line up alongside the best breweries in the country. We are already benefitting from the increased expertise in our quality assurance and management.”

The brewery proudly uses locally grown hops from Worcestershire, Herefordshire and/or Shropshire and all the barley used to make our malt is grown in the UK.