Frequently asked questions

• How can ZERO2FIVE support my company?

  We offer a range of technical and commercial support that is tailored to your company’s needs including support in the following areas:

  Technical support	Allergen management
  BRCGS and SALSA audit preparation & gap analysis	Product reformulation/ re-engineering
  Validation (cooking, cooling, storage and distribution)	Packaging technology
  Factory design	Access to facilities and equipment
  New product development	Microbiological product safety: support with shelf-life determination and interpretation of laboratory results
  Process improvements	Listeria management
  Food safety culture	Training (bespoke)
  Crisis management – product recall	Commercial and marketing support
  HACCP review	Consumer touchpoint audit
  HACCP validation	Communications audit
  Internal auditing	Focus groups
  Labelling review	Market and consumer insights
  Product evaluation: sensory and texture analysis	Marketing strategy
  Nutritional calculation	Trade engagement
  Quality management system review	Category analysis
  Food legislation interpretation	Retail environment simulation and eye-tracking studies
  Waste reduction / review

• Is my business eligible for Project HELIX funded support?

  We will review company and project eligibility with you on an individual basis to check if Project HELIX funding can be used to support your enquiry. Some of the key eligibility criteria include:

  • You must be a food or drink manufacturer (or planning to start up a food or drink manufacturing business) in Wales.
  • The business must be within their Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) subsidy control limits of £315,000 in the current and two previous financial years (1 April to 31 March).

  ZERO2FIVE may be able to support the following enquiries on a commercial basis where Project HELIX funding cannot be used:

  • Businesses outside of Wales
  • Food catering or food retail businesses

• How do I get Project HELIX support for my business?

  First, contact us with your enquiry for an initial discussion. We will go through our eligibility paperwork with you and one of our team will discuss your project enquiry with you one-to-one to scope the project, determine the level of funded support and likely timescale for support delivery. Once all of the Project HELIX funding contract documents are agreed and signed, the project can begin delivery.

• How much will Project HELIX support cost?

  If your business meets the eligibility criteria and is determined to be a micro-business then you may be eligible for fully funded support. Eligible small, medium and large ​enterprises may receive partial or fully funded support depending on the level of assistance required.

• Can you help my business achieve certifications such as SALSA?

  Yes, ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre is able to support and mentor all aspects of gaining BRCGS and SALSA certification.

  Our technical team has a wealth of industry experience in relation to food safety management systems. ZERO2FIVE can also support business by carrying out a detailed pre-audit or gap analysis against your chosen food safety standard.

  For further information, please see services here.

• Will my company be given Project HELIX money directly?

  No, the financial support is delivered through ZERO2FIVE staff time and associated project costs including access to our equipment and facilities.

• Do ZERO2FIVE offer microbiological and shelf life testing?

  Unfortunately the Cardiff Metropolitan University laboratory facilities are not UKAS accredited as they are predominantly used for academic and research purposes; therefore we don’t carry out any shelf life or microbiological testing. However, we can signpost you towards UKAS and their list of accredited laboratories, help you determine likely testing criteria to support your product needs, and interpret your results once received from your chosen UKAS certified Lab.

• Do ZERO2FIVE carry out nutritional analysis?

  As above, we don’t carry out routine nutritional analysis in our research and teaching laboratories. However, we can signpost you towards UKAS accredited laboratories who can undertake nutritional analysis, and help you interpret your results on receipt.

  We do have access to nutrition calculation software which can be used to give an indication of your product’s nutritional composition based on the recipe and information on cook losses supplied by your business.

• Can ZERO2FIVE write a HACCP plan for my company?

  A well thought out and documented HACCP study is fundamental for any food and drink business and HACCP procedures based on Codex principles are a legal requirement throughout the EU. Whilst the team at ZERO2FIVE can support you through the process of developing a HACCP study based on best practice guidelines, we cannot write your HACCP study for you. The responsibility for food safety and legal compliance of all products manufactured by the business lies with the business owners.

  We can review your HACCP plan and support with knowledge transfer or mentoring in any areas that the business may need support. For start-up and smaller food and drink businesses there are also computer based packages available to help with writing a HACCP plan such as MyHACCP.

• Do ZERO2FIVE calibrate weights and scales?

  No, please contact your local authority’s trading standards who will be able to help you with this. However, we can support you with your company’s calibration procedures and supporting documentation.

• Do ZERO2FIVE design labels?

  Support for reviewing and developing the content of food and drink labels in conjunction with current UK and EU legislation may be available to eligible businesses under Project HELIX funding.

  We do not currently offer artwork design support. Label and branding design support may be available to your business if you are eligible via alternative funding. Please contact Cywain to discuss your design needs further.

• Can my company use the facilities at ZERO2FIVE to manufacture products?

  Currently we are unable to hire out our food and drink manufacturing facilities for commercial production purposes due to the main use of our food production areas being academic and research focused. However, our food production and development areas may be used for developing concept ideas and initial small scale feasibility trials. Our Food Innovation Wales partners, Food Centre Wales in Mid-West Wales and Food Technology Centre in North Wales, host a range of purpose built commercial manufacturing facilities and incubator units – please contact them for details of the support they may be able to offer either via funded or non-funded means.

• Do you provide funding for the purchase of equipment or facilities?

  Project HELIX funding can currently only be used for knowledge transfer and does not include direct funding payment for purchase or premises. Please contact Cywain or Business Wales who may be able to advise on other relevant funding streams for capital expenditure on premises, plant and equipment

• Can ZERO2FIVE write a business plan for my company?

  Although we cannot write a business plan for your company, we can help with market and consumer research to inform your business plan and strategy.

• Can ZERO2FIVE design a logo for my company?

  We do not currently offer support with logo design but we may be able to provide initial support with considerations for developing a brand. We can also support with briefing agencies. Funding via alternative Welsh Government sources may be available to eligible businesses. Please contact Cywain for further details. We can also offer focus groups or one-to-one interviews with your target market to help with branding and/or packaging design decisions.

• Can ZERO2FIVE create product recipes for my company?

  ZERO2FIVE may support eligible businesses to develop bespoke product recipes. However, you must have an initial recipe for your product and documented product brief which we can help you further develop.

• Is there a market for my product?

  We have access to market and trend data from Kantar Worldpanel, The Food People and GlobalData and can provide you with insights and analysis to help you make this decision effectively.

• Can ZERO2FIVE talk to suppliers, buyers, laboratories or environmental health on my company’s behalf?

  No, we can only liaise with you. But, we can mentor you on the right questions to ask these organisations. All information discussed as part of your project is fully confidential.

• Can ZERO2FIVE help with export?

  We can help your company with the technical requirements of exporting and also provide you with market data to identify overseas opportunities. For further support, please contact Business Wales.

• What does ZERO2FIVE mean?

  This the safe-operating temperature for a refrigerator. Our focus is on food safety so that’s why we’re called ZERO2FIVE.

Get in touch with us

If you’d like to find out more about how we can help your business or have any questions about the support we can offer, then please get in touch.

Contact us