SALSA Technologies Welcomes New Managing Director

We are pleased to announce a change at SALSA Technologies Ltd, a professional service organisation providing food safety certification through SALSA under licence and brand and consumer protection through product and supplier approval, under their MNGP brand.

After more than 30 years building up both brands as leaders in their respective fields, Chris Grimes is stepping down from the day-to-day running of the company and handing the reins to Dr John Tomlinson, who will become the new Managing Director from April 2026 and will be steering the company into its next stage of growth. John has over thirty years working in the global food and drink industry from his early career at Whitbread to several commercial, strategic and operational leadership roles in other professional organisations, including BSI and BRCGS.

The company has developed a new three-year strategic plan, building on its strong foundations to provide a framework for growth in the coming years. Both brands offer considerable growth opportunities to deliver a level of assurance that meets the expectations of retail, foodservice and wholesale customers.

MNGP is a heritage brand and has been in existence for nearly 60 years, now operating a professional technical service to ensure products are safe and legal for the UK market. From global supplier approval across multiple assurance schemes, to ingredient checks, product specification setting and labelling, MNGP is working with some of the largest wholesalers as well as smaller manufacturers acting as their “technical team”.

For nearly 20 years SALSA has been in operation in the UK providing support to more than 2,000 micro and small producers ensuring food and drink is both safe and legal. With its central approval process and working with select mentors and auditors, SALSA has always stood for a high degree of quality and trust allowing smaller organisations to develop their food safety culture.

In 2025, SALSA expanded its scope into Republic of Ireland allowing smaller producers there to adopt the same framework and still meet the brand’s core purpose of providing affordable food safety assurance certification and support for small and micro businesses.

Many specifiers across retail, food service and wholesale currently use SALSA as part of their supplier approval process. The certification scheme supports an organisations’ emerging and artisan supplier policy, as they seek to offer consumers new, innovative and sustainable products.

Having worked with the company for the last 18 months, John Tomlinson, has now developed the strategy with the team and has started to build up key relationships with partners, specifiers and suppliers alike and is excited at the prospect of working with the team.

Dr John Tomlinson, Managing Director, commented: “I am delighted and excited by the prospect of working with the STL team and using my experience to help kick-start their next growth journey. There are many opportunities across both brands that we hope to explore in the coming months and years, all aimed at ensuring the food we eat is safe and legal.”

Chris Grimes, SALSA founder and business owner stated: “After 30 years at the helm, I look forward to witnessing the next chapters for MNGP and SALSA under John’s capable and proven leadership in the sector. I will continue to work with and support our excellent team of technologists, auditors and mentors, to ensure a smooth handover and to kick-start the next stage in the Company’s development. We have built two great brands, both with excellent reputations across the food industry, and it will be a pleasure to see these continue and grow to their true potential in the years ahead.”