Leading manufacturer Zertus needed a new way to efficiently process procurement and supplier assurance data. Here’s how they moved to an audit-ready, digital way of working with Foods Connected. 

 

Zertus is a leading manufacturer in the snack and confectionery sector, operating across four manufacturing sites and overseeing 11 well-known brands, including Kinnerton, Lir Chocolates, and Humdinger. With over 5,000 products in its portfolio, Zertus supplies major UK and global retailers, requiring strict supplier compliance and risk management to maintain food safety and quality standards. 

As the company continues to grow, efficiency, automation, and digital transformation have become key priorities for streamlining supplier management and auditing processes. 

A complex supplier landscape 

Managing supplier approvals and compliance across multiple sites was becoming increasingly difficult for Zertus due to an inherited system. The process relied heavily on manual spreadsheets and email communications, making it time-consuming and prone to inefficiencies. 

Some of the key challenges included: 

  • Tracking supplier approvals: doing it manually meant that approvals took longer than necessary. 
  • Preparing for audits: searching for compliance data during traceability exercises took over four hours per request. 
  • Lack of real-time visibility: there was no clear overview of compliance and risk across all suppliers. 
  • Fragmented documentation: managing supplier data across multiple sites led to duplication and inconsistencies. 

With these obstacles affecting productivity, Zertus needed to find a more structured and efficient way to handle supplier management. 

Introducing a more efficient way to work 

To improve its supplier management and auditing process, Zertus implemented Foods Connected’s Supplier Management and Auditing solution. The goal was to move away from manual tracking and introduce a more automated, efficient system. 

What Changed? 

  • A digital supplier approval process: supplier forms and compliance documents are now submitted and reviewed electronically, removing delays caused by email chains. 
  • Easier compliance tracking: a supplier risk scoring system provides instant insights into compliance status, reducing time spent on manual checks. 
  • A centralised database: supplier data is now stored in one place, accessible across all four sites for better coordination. 
  • Simplified audit preparation: with all documentation available digitally, Zertus can now respond to traceability requests faster and with more accuracy. 

The impact of digital transformation 

Since introducing this new system, Zertus has seen clear improvements in efficiency: 

  • 50% reduction in time spent on traceability exercises: down from over four hours to just one or two hours. 
  • Faster supplier approvals: compliance documents are now reviewed and signed off without unnecessary delays. 
  • Better coordination across teams: ensuring supplier data is accurate and consistent across all sites. 
  • Reduced risk of errors: automated tracking ensures that supplier compliance information remains up to date. 

“This is only the start of our journey with Foods Connected. We’re already looking at other solutions we can incorporate into our process.” 
 – Morgan Moody, Supplier Assurance Technician, Zertus 

As the food industry continues to evolve, embracing digital tools will be key to staying ahead of compliance requirements, improving traceability, and maintaining strong supplier partnerships. Zertus' experience highlights the value of investing in smarter systems - not just to streamline day-to-day operations, but to build a more resilient supply chain for the future. 

Read the full case study here.