Ingredient and raw material distributor ACI Group (United Kingdom) is urging nutrition and functional food brands to take a more proactive approach to supplier engagement and ingredient sourcing as “regulatory scrutiny and sustainability expectations” rise across the sector.
Brands are increasingly expected to demonstrate full traceability, ethical sourcing and sustainable practices from raw materials to finished products with strategic collaboration across the supply chain becoming essential to safeguard product integrity and consumer confidence.
According to ACI, businesses should move beyond documentation and supplier assurances to embed transparency and first-hand validation at every stage of their supply chain. Brands can demonstrate responsibility to consumers, protect product quality and future-proof operations in an increasingly regulated and sustainability-conscious market.
“Brands today are expected to do more than rely on paperwork alone. First-hand engagement such as site visits enables companies to verify sourcing practices, quality systems, and innovation capabilities while building relationships that support long-term credibility and consumer trust,” said Sam Lubbock-Smith, business development manager at ACI.
ACI recently facilitated a two-day site visit in Spain with supplement brand Viridian to explore the operations of Spanish ingredient specialist Alvinesa. The visit provided an end-to-end view of Alvinesa’s upcycled ingredient supply chain from vineyard and winery partners, manufacturing, laboratory testing and new product development.
“End-to-end transparency, sustainable sourcing, and structured supplier engagement are no longer optional. Brands that prioritize oversight and collaboration at every stage of the supply chain strengthen credibility, safeguard quality, and position themselves to meet both regulatory expectations and consumer demand for sustainability,” Lubbock-Smith said.
For more information, visit www.acigroup.biz.
