What are the SALSA accreditation requirements for drinks businesses and when is it mandatory?

SALSA accreditation is increasingly required by larger retailers and wholesalers for drinks listings, particularly for RFP (request for proposal) processes with major stockists. Here's what members found:

**When it's needed:** - Large grocery retailers typically require proof of SALSA for listing approval - Smaller, local wholesalers may not mandate it, but larger ones do - Essential if you're producing spirits or other drinks for third-party clients

**Two routes depending on your production setup:** - **Outsourced production** — If you use a contract manufacturer (co-packer) for blending and canning, their existing SALSA certification usually covers you; you won't need your own certification - **In-house production** — Getting SALSA approved yourself is "reasonably onerous" and involves significant paperwork and process documentation

**What to expect:** - Substantial paperwork and administrative burden to achieve and maintain certification - Annual inspections are required to maintain status - Members described it as "a lot of work" but ultimately "doable" and "very worth it" for access to larger retail channels

Members who pursued it without outsourced production found it a necessary headache to unlock major retailer relationships, particularly for RFP processes.