CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety solutions to a wide range of industries worldwide, recently unveiled the first company to be certified under its newly designed Good Catering Practice (GCP) standard. Best Western’s Premier Hotel Rebstock in Wurzburg, Germany, joined Intertek’s comprehensive audit and sampling program to further its first-class reputation and continuous regard for the quality and safety of meals provided to their guests.

Food service providers such as hotels, restaurants, nursing homes, schools and catering companies depend on the repeated patronage and trust of loyal customers. In response to growing concerns for allergies and food intolerances, Intertek designed the GCP system to measure safety and efficiency in food preparation from production to distribution. The certification will serve a variety of clients globally, and includes criteria such as personal hygiene, conditions of storage, waste management, employee acknowledgement and temperature control in facilities.

"The GCP mark will warrant an enhanced sense of trust and confidence in brands. It also assures customers that their meals have been inspected along the entire process of preparation – from the farm the food was sourced from to the entree in front of them today," said Dr. Jochen P. Zoller, President of Intertek's Food Services.

Intertek will next be positioning a pilot program in Thailand in accordance with the Thailand Restaurant Association (TRA) to suit local needs. With government support, the Thailand Restaurant Quality Standard (TRQS) project has completed 150 audits in the last two months, and will transition into a formal GCP certification with continued inspections over the next year. The new GCP marks will signify international best practices for catering beyond legal requirements, and will create a global platform for high performing brands in catering worldwide.

Please click here to view a clip from Intertek’s press conference with Hotel Rebstock in Wurzburg, Germany.

Additional information on Intertek’s Good Catering Practice can be found at www.intertek.com/food/good-catering-practice-gcp.

(Video courtesy of www.TVtouring.de.)

About Intertek

Intertek (ITRK.L) is a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world. From auditing and inspection, to testing, quality assurance and certification, Intertek people are dedicated to adding value to customers' products and processes, supporting their success in the global marketplace. Intertek has the expertise, resources and global reach to support its customers through its network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 24,000 people in more than 100 countries around the world.