Refresh for NZFGC’s Safe In Store Pass Programme (SISP)

If you’ve ever taken advantage of tastings offered while supermarket shopping, you might have noticed the person offering the sample is wearing a green pass. Or maybe you’ve seen someone wearing one while arranging a product display? This little green pass, known as the ‘Safe In Store pass’, recognises that that the person wearing it has completed NZFGC’s in-store safety training programme. This programme is designed for all suppliers and merchandisers who are working in supermarkets. It intends to do what is says – that is keep the user, other staff, and customers all ‘safe in store’.

The Safe In Store programme has operated in some form since the early 2000s, developing over the years to keep up with technological improvements and regulatory changes. It’s an industry recognised health and safety qualification for merchandisers and in-store demonstrators. The pass and programme are designed to help users identify and avoid hazards in the workplace, prepare and handle food and products safely, and standardise safety protocols and compliance.

Thanks to ongoing efforts from the supermarkets, suppliers, and our provider partner, Intuto, what we have today is a programme that benefits the whole industry, delivering time and cost-effective training that is accessible.  This month we are excited to announce a major refresh to the SISP programme.  This upgrade represents a substantial investment in the SISP programme, driven by feedback from users across the industry including from the team at ShopCare.

Refreshed and Relevant Content

After consultation with health and safety experts, supermarkets, and supply companies we’ve refreshed the course content. Both the SISP Induction and Food Handling courses have been independently reviewed and updated to include the most current and relevant safety information. From advice on using pallet jacks – manual and electric – to food handling hygiene, these changes ensure that users are equipped with the knowledge they need to stay safe when working in supermarkets.

Goodbye Physical Green Cards?

Based on overwhelming feedback from supplier companies and the supermarkets, we’ve transitioned the Safe In Store Pass to a digital format. This allows for enhanced compliance accessible via any mobile device. These changes were driven by users from both large and small companies, who expressed a strong preference for an online, mobile-based format. This not only reduces the risk of card loss, a common issue when a SISP user is about to enter premises, but also increases overall efficiency. Physical cards can still be used and proudly worn of course, but digitising the passes offers much greater convenience and flexibility.

More accessible and user-friendly 

And it’s not just the card that has been digitised – the SISP platform is now fully mobile-friendly, making it easier than ever for users to access and complete their training, anytime, anywhere. Managers can now purchase multiple SISP passes in a single transaction through a new, easy-to-use shopping cart, and access to the courses themselves is now delivered instantly through tokens, allowing users to begin their training immediately. Another new feature is an online reminder to renew the digital pass – every two years – also to ensure compliance.
I encourage you to go online to https://safeinstorepass.com/ and explore these updates, and I’m keen to hear your feedback.