Camino Ruiz Agencies Limited, operating under the Global Tilapia brand, has achieved FSSC 22000 certification by SGS, strengthening its food safety management system and supporting its ambitions for continued growth in Kenya and international markets.
For Global Tilapia, the decision to pursue FSSC 22000 certification was about more than meeting a certification requirement. The Kenyan aquaculture and fish processing company saw the process as an opportunity to strengthen its systems, bring its operations closer to international best practices and build greater confidence among customers and business partners.
The certification is also part of the company's broader ambition to become a world-class aquaculture business while improving operational excellence, competitiveness and access to new markets.
Turning certification into a business improvement project
Global Tilapia spent approximately 12 months implementing the requirements of FSSC 22000. During this period, the company worked on its food safety management system, internal controls and documented procedures, while also focusing on how these systems were applied in day-to-day operations.
One of the biggest challenges was embedding food safety culture across the organization. With food safety dependent on actions taken throughout the business, Global Tilapia focused on ensuring employees understood their individual responsibilities and the importance of following established controls consistently.
The implementation process also required the company to review and align its processes with internationally recognized practices. This included strengthening documentation, traceability, staff training and operational controls.
Rather than treating these activities as isolated compliance exercises, the company used the process to improve the way its teams manage food safety risks across the business.
Strengthening systems and people
The certification journey brought improvements beyond documentation. According to Global Tilapia, the implementation strengthened operational discipline, increased employee awareness and improved risk management.
The company also identified continuous learning as an important part of maintaining the system. Staff training helped reinforce food safety responsibilities and supported more consistent application of procedures in daily operations.
Traceability was another important area of focus. Stronger traceability systems, combined with documented processes and operational controls, provided the company with a more structured approach to managing food safety risks.
For Global Tilapia, these improvements created a stronger foundation for future growth.
Achieving FSSC 22000 certification is an important step in our growth journey. SGS added value by bringing a rigorous, practical perspective to our systems and helping us see how to further improve our food safety management.
What the SGS audit highlighted
The SGS audit also provided an external perspective on the systems Global Tilapia had developed.
Auditors identified several strengths within the organization, including its food safety culture, leadership commitment and robust traceability systems. The company's approach to continuous staff training and its well-documented food safety management processes were also recognized.
These strengths demonstrated that food safety responsibilities were being supported not only by documented procedures, but also by leadership and employee engagement.
Global Tilapia demonstrated strong leadership commitment and a well-established food safety culture, supported by effective traceability, staff training and structured food safety processes.
A foundation for the next stage of growth
For Global Tilapia, FSSC 22000 certification marks an important stage in its development. The company supplies fish products to leading supermarkets, hotels and restaurants, as well as retail, wholesale, institutional and commercial customers. Its products are also available through e-commerce and Global Tilapia shops.
With its office in Nairobi and factory in Embakasi, the company continues to develop its operations while investing in food safety, innovation and operational excellence.
The certification provides a structured foundation for that development. Stronger food safety systems, improved traceability, trained employees and more consistent operational controls can help the company maintain product safety and quality as it expands.
For Global Tilapia, the FSSC 22000 journey was therefore not simply about achieving certification. It was an opportunity to strengthen the organization from within — and to build the systems, capabilities and food safety culture needed for its next phase of growth.
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of over 100,000 dedicated professionals. With more than 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.
Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and a portfolio of trusted specialized brands, including Applied Technical Services, Brightsight, Bluesign and Nutrasource.
SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN SW).
