Efteling is one of Europe’s most beloved theme parks and welcomes millions of visitors each year. With a wide range of food and beverage options, ranging from restaurants and kiosks to self-service stations, food safety is a top priority. To offer guests a worry-free and safe dining experience, Efteling partners with Normec Foodcare. Food safety is ensured through expert and thorough hygiene inspections at all food service locations.
70 food and beverage outlets, one goal: safety and quality
From restaurants and hotels to mobile ice cream carts and self-service drink stations for children—Efteling has about 70 different food and beverage outlets. Hygiene is the absolute foundation here: not only for food safety, but also to instill confidence in visitors. Every day, thousands of meals must be prepared safely and hygienically, and a single incident could harm both the health of guests and the park’s reputation. This requires an inspection partner who recognizes risks, understands processes, and actively contributes ideas. “What I like is that Normec Foodcare knows us,” says Hanno Engwerda, quality advisor at Efteling. “We don’t have to explain how our park works from scratch every time. That saves time and ensures efficiency.”
A Constructive and Proactive Approach
Each year, Normec Foodcare conducts approximately 100 inspections at Efteling. This is done based on a carefully coordinated schedule, in which the frequency of inspections is determined for each location. In addition to regular checks, inspectors also take samples and contact swabs to monitor hygiene conditions. The inspections are conducted unannounced to obtain as realistic a picture as possible of daily operations.
While some other service providers limit themselves to checking off a checklist, Normec Foodcare distinguishes itself through its in-depth approach. When something deviates from the standard, the inspectors look for the underlying cause and assess whether corrective action is needed. This helps Efteling to continuously improve and minimize risks. “Normec Foodcare’s inspectors look beyond a standard checklist,” says Hanno. “They don’t just assess whether something is right or wrong; they dig deeper. That approach provides valuable insights and helps us maintain a high level of performance.”
"Normec Foodcare’s inspectors don’t just assess whether something is right or wrong; they dig deeper. That provides valuable insights and helps us continue to perform at a high level."
— Hanno Engwerda, Kwaliteitsadviseur Efteling
Good & Green: A Collaborative Approach
Efteling uses the “Good & Green” methodology, a strict standard based on legal requirements under which inspection results are shared with the NVWA. This means that food service outlets are only rated “green” if they achieve a score of at least an eight. “We want to show that we take food safety very seriously,” says Hanno Engwerda. “Thanks to the inspections by Normec Foodcare and our own internal checks, we achieve an average score of 8.5—and we’re aiming even higher.”
Contributing to Improvement
The partnership between Efteling and Normec Foodcare revolves around a shared vision of food safety: not inspecting just for the sake of it, but actually contributing to improvement. Normec Foodcare’s inspectors place their findings in the proper context, enabling Efteling to continuously optimize its processes. This partnership demonstrates how a constructive and proactive approach leads to a safe and trustworthy food service environment for visitors. This allows them to enjoy a worry-free dining experience at Efteling.
Would you also like to take food safety within your organization to the next level? Contact the specialists at Normec Foodcare today.
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