Efteling is one of Europe's most popular theme parks, welcoming millions of visitors each year. With a wide range of catering facilities, ranging from restaurants and kiosks to self-service outlets, food safety is a top priority. To offer guests a worry-free and safe dining experience, the Efteling partners with Normec Foodcare. With expert and thorough hygiene inspections at all hospitality locations, food safety is ensured.
70 catering outlets, one goal: safety and quality
From restaurants and hotels to mobile ice cream carts and self-filling stations for children - the Efteling has about 70 different catering outlets. Hygiene forms the absolute basis here: not only for food safety, but also to radiate confidence to visitors. Thousands of meals must be prepared safely and hygienically every day, and an incident can damage both the health of guests and the park's reputation. This requires an inspection partner that recognizes risks, understands processes and actively thinks along. "What I like is that Normec Foodcare knows us," says Hanno Engwerda, quality consultant for the Efteling. "We don't have to keep explaining from scratch how our park works. That saves time and creates efficiency."
Constructive and collaborative approach
Annually, Normec Foodcare performs about 100 inspections at the Efteling. This is done on the basis of a carefully coordinated schedule, which determines for each location how often inspections are needed. In addition to regular inspections, inspectors also take samples and contact prints to monitor hygienic conditions. Inspections are conducted unannounced to provide the most realistic picture of daily practices.
Where some other service providers limit themselves to checking off a checklist, Normec Foodcare distinguishes itself by its in-depth approach. When something deviates from the standard, the inspectors look for the underlying reason and assess whether adjustment is needed. This helps the Efteling to continuously improve and minimize risks. "Normec Foodcare's inspectors look beyond a standard checklist," Hanno explains. "They don't just assess whether something is right or wrong, but rather ask further questions. That approach provides valuable insights and helps us continue to perform at a high level."
"Normec Foodcare's inspectors don't just judge whether something is right or wrong, they ask questions. That provides valuable insights and helps us continue to perform at a high level."
— Hanno Engwerda, Kwaliteitsadviseur Efteling
Good & Green: a collaborative approach
The Efteling works with the 'Good & Green' methodology, a strict standard of legal requirements where inspection results are shared with the NVWA. This means that hospitality items are only rated as 'green' when they receive a score of at least an eight. "We want to show that we really take food safety seriously," said Hanno Engwerda. "Thanks to Normec Foodcare's inspections and our own internal checks, we achieve an average score of 8.5 - and we aim even higher."
Contributing to improvement
The cooperation between the Efteling and Normec Foodcare revolves around a shared vision of food safety: not checking for the sake of checking, but actually contributing to improvement. Normec Foodcare's inspectors place findings in the right context, allowing the Efteling to continuously optimize its processes. This partnership shows how a constructive and collaborative approach leads to a safe and trusted hospitality environment for visitors. This allows them to enjoy a carefree dining experience at the Efteling.
Do you also want to take food safety within your organization to the next level? Contact the specialists at Normec Foodcare today.
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