And it has achieved Double AA accreditation - a new level introduced for the classification this year, and which is the highest level attainable.

Central Foods managing director Gordon Lauder said: “We are proud to have been awarded the BRC Agents and Brokers certificate once again. It is great news that Central Foods has achieved the highest level of technical and operational recognition available from this prestigious QA body, reinforcing how we can confidently reassure our customers of our ability to deliver on all levels.”

BRC Global Standards is a leading safety and quality certification programme, used by 25,000 certificated suppliers in more than 130 countries. The Standard for Agents and Brokers gives essential certification for companies that provide purchase, importation or product distribution services in the food and packaging supply chain.

Central Foods, which is based at Collingtree near Northampton, is one of the UK’s leading frozen food distributors, supplying more than 220 independent wholesalers, as well as larger national and regional wholesalers. It also supplies a wide range of frozen food to foodservice caterers across the entire foodservice industry, including pubs, hotels, restaurants, staff canteens, schools, hospitals, coffee shops, football grounds, garden centres and universities.