One Partner, Multiple Standards: The Value of Bundling GFSI Certification with Addendums

When a food supplier prepares for certification, their calendar fills quickly: training, internal auditor visits, team readiness checks, and document reviews. Now add a layer of Customer specific audits, and you can feel like an endless cycle of audits. For many companies, the biggest challenge isn’t achieving compliance, it’s managing the time and cost of overlapping audits.

The Strain of Multiple Audits

Food safety teams often face:

Audit fatigue – preparing for GFSI and Customer audits.
Increased costs – extra travel, auditor days, and administration for multiple overlapping audits.
Production disruption – staff pulled from operations for audits, documentation requests, and walk-throughs.
Inconsistent interpretations – different certification bodies may apply requirements slightly differently, creating uncertainty for suppliers.

One supplier recently explained it this way: “We were spending so much time preparing for the next audit that it felt like we weren’t making progress in improving our systems.” That sentiment is common across the industry.

Why Bundling Audits Matters

Choosing a certification body approved for both GFSI certification schemes and addendums allows suppliers to combine what used to be separate processes. Instead of hosting two or three different audits in a year, companies can address everything in one integrated audit.

The benefits are clear:

Efficiency – one schedule, one audit, simpler process for corrective actions.
Lower cost – reduced travel, fewer audit days, and streamlined administration.
Less disruption – staff spend less time on audit prep and more on food safety improvements.
Consistency – a single team of auditors applies requirements across both GFSI and addendums.

For example, a mid-size beverage manufacturer supplying both Costco and McDonald’s was once preparing for two separate audits within weeks of each other. By moving to a bundled audit approach, the company cut audit time in half and streamlined their corrective actions. The operations team reported they “finally had breathing room to focus on proactive food safety improvements.”

DNV’s Unique Position

Not all certification bodies can offer bundled audits. DNV is one of the few approved to conduct:

Costco Food Safety Addendum
McDonald’s Supplier Addendum
McCormick Addendum

alongside recognized GFSI certification schemes including BRCGS, FSSC 22000 and SQF.

This means suppliers can manage multiple customer requirements with a single certification partner. DNV auditors are trained and calibrated to deliver both GFSI certifications and specific addendums in one integrated process.

What Suppliers Gain

Bundling isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about creating value in the certification process:

Stronger customer relationships – showing customers like Costco or McDonald’s that you can meet requirements with confidence.
Risk reduction – one integrated corrective action plan lowers the chance of gaps between different audits.
Strategic advantage – companies that streamline certification often gain a competitive edge in winning or retaining business.

Retailers like Costco are clear: they expect suppliers to meet both GFSI and their addendum requirements. By partnering with a certification body that can do both, suppliers send a message of reliability and readiness.

Beyond Compliance

Food safety certification is no longer just about passing an audit. It’s about building trust with customers and protecting brand reputation. When suppliers simplify their audit approach through bundling, they free up resources to focus on what matters most, preventing risks and strengthening the food safety supply chain.

Bundling GFSI certifications with addendums is a smarter way to meet customer requirements. It reduces complexity, minimizes cost, and helps food safety teams concentrate on continuous improvement.

DNV’s approvals for Costco, McDonald’s, and McCormick addendums, together with our global GFSI expertise, make us a trusted one-stop partner for suppliers across the food supply chain.

This article is part of DNV’s series on meeting retailer expectations. In the final post, we’ll explore why retailer addendums are shaping the future of food safety assurance and how suppliers can prepare for what’s next.

About the Author:

With more than 30 years in the Food & Beverage industry, Kathleen Wybourn shares practical insights shaped by her experience in food safety, quality, supplier management, and operations at Monsanto. She has led initiatives at the association level as Director of GMA-SAFE and through her work with GFSI Technical Working Groups. As Director of Food & Beverage, North America, for DNV, Kathleen continues to champion safer, more resilient food systems.

10/21/2025 1:00:00 PM