Raising a toast to The Q Mark
Importing wines and beers from all around the world into Ireland requires a knowledge and expertise at many different levels, one of which is quality management. GerFinan , Founding Director of Classic Drinks in Cork, speaks about how The Q Mark has helpe
“Classic Drinks was established back in 2004 and once the business was up and running, we sought to grow it further,” says Ger Finan. “To achieve this, we wanted to demonstrate to our stakeholders and customers that we were committed to the highest standards of quality. That’s when we started looking into The Q Mark.”
Classic Drinks imports a range of handpicked wines, beers, spirits and ciders from around the world. Finan says the company only works with winemakers who have the same philosophy as them – ‘the customer is the priority’.
“Our customers range from hotels to boutique wineries and it was actually through our customers that we became aware of The Q Mark. We quickly realised the confidence consumers have in it. The Q Mark is an independent recognisable symbol of quality and we felt it was a perfect fit for what our goals were. So, in 2010 we applied.
“Part of The Q Mark process is traceability of suppliers’ products. We have followed this and have kept on file many quality certifications from our suppliers. Suppliers need to be approved to become involved with Classic Drinks. On an annual basis, we do a supplier ‘Approval Listing’, which really helps to keep a good framework in place.”
Finan says that The Q Mark for Hygiene and Food Safety has helped to give the company “that competitive edge” in today’s market.
“The Q Mark is also recognised abroad, which is very important for us. We import from countries such as Chile, Australia, US and all over Europe, and The Q Mark has given us confidence in dealing with these different suppliers worldwide.
“It’s an assurance that the highest quality standards are achieved throughout the entire process, and not just in the distribution here in Cork. As many of our customers already have The Q Mark, it has also helped us in building relationships with them.
“The symbol itself is very powerful and says a lot about any company.
“For us, The Q Mark gives customers the assurance that when they have a glass of wine, they can have confidence in the quality of it. But, one of the greatest things about The Q Mark is that it is a real driver for continuous improvement!”