If you sell sandwiches, whether you are an independent or chain, retailer or caterer, the British Sandwich & Food to Go Association is here to represent your interests and to provide you with support when you need it.
Retail membership comes with a comprehensive range of benefits, including full access to the advice and assistance offered through the Mint Guide Max Plan membership is now included with the MINT MAX plan. See www.themintguide.co.uk.
As a member you will also be help us to protect your interests and all those involved in the sandwich and food to go markets across the UK. As representative body for the industry, we are here to help your business grow as well as to make sure that your interests are heard by those in Westminster and elsewhere when they make decisions that could impact you.
Key Benefits
As a full member of the Association we will send you a certificate to display in your business and you can use the BSA logo in your own marketing as well as get a wide range of benefits, including:
Advice and Guidance: All members have free access to the BSA Helpline service and to its guidelines and advice. This includes technical and legal advice as well as HR and employment support.
Primary Authority Advice: Members are covered by the Association’s Primary Authority Agreement, which means that if they follow the BSA Assured Advice guidelines they are protected if they are challenged by EHOs in relation to these. Members can also use the Association’s Primary Authority and Government links to seek clarification on any specific issues they may have, including labelling. All members are covered by the Association’s Primary Authority Agreement whether they have their own agreements or not.
The Mint Guide: All members will have free access to The Mint Guide, a broad ranging set of guidelines, written in plain English, covering everything from food and fire safety to employment law. This includes Assured Advice which is covered by the Association’s Primary Authority Agreement.
Discounted Online Training: Through an agreement with the National Skills Academy, the Association offers members discounted online training covering Food Safety Level 2, HACCP Level 2, Health & Safety Level 2 and Allergens Awareness. Each course costs £12.50 + VAT or the four together cost £40 + VAT.
Keeping You and Your Colleagues up to Date: All members receive regular weekly updates via ebulletins covering changes in legislation and other issues that could affect their businesses.
Networking: The Association provides members with opportunities to meet, share information and discuss issues of common interest through webinars and meetings which take place on a regular basis throughout the year.
Working Groups: From time-to-time the Association will set up working groups to discuss issues affecting the industry and work in collaboration to seek solutions. An example is the Packaging Environmental Group which brings together packaging experts with retailers and manufacturers to discuss ways of improving the environmental impact of sandwich and food to go packaging.
A voice with Government: As a Stakeholder recognised by Government, the Association provides a voice for members and the industry on issues affecting these markets, such as labour shortages, packaging waste and obesity targets. While the Association works closely with other organisations on the broader issues, it also provides a voice on issues that specifically affect the sandwich and food-to-go markets.
Dealing with Issues for the Industry: In addition to dealing with Government, the Association represents the industry across a wide range of areas. For example, the Association has been working with the NHS to address issues around food safety, and particularly listeria, in relation to chilled foods.
Protecting Members from Negative Publicity: The Association provides advice and support for members in dealing with the media and will always seek to direct negative media away from membership by acting as spokesperson for the industry.
Magazines: Membership includes free subscriptions to be Sandwich & Food to Go News and Café Life magazines. Members can also register their colleagues to receive these free.
Supporting Members and the Market through British Sandwich Week: Every May the Association organises British Sandwich Week with the aim of supporting members and promoting the consumption of sandwiches. The media campaign around the week reaches in excess of 30 million consumers, encouraging them to think positively about sandwiches.
Webinars: The Association organises an annual programme of informative webinars designed the make it easy for members to gather useful information. These cover a wide range of topics from Employment law and how to use technology to streamline operations to guidance on new legislation. Holding these online and making recordings of them accessible to members means that even the smallest business can benefit from them.
Encouraging Excellence: The Association organises the annual Sandwich Industry Awards, also known as the ‘Sammies’, through which it recognises those in the industry who are doing the most to promote good practice and standards each year. The gala dinner at which the awards are presented also provides a networking opportunity for members. Members enjoy a significant discount on the cost of places at the dinner.
