Super Supermarket Certification Mark

TNO knowledge and expertise
A thoroughly reliable certification mark requires knowledge. Knowledge about the various factors involved in responsible business practices, knowledge of certification marks, knowledge of a sustainable community and knowledge of the sector. Sector expertise is abundantly available from the Vakcentrum. Nationally renowned research institute TNO possesses the expertise in its organisation as well. Over the next two years, the Vakcentrum will work together with TNO to further develop the Certification Mark. TNO also advises the Vakcentrum on the ways in which the Certification Mark can be kept up to date and the innovations that contribute to the increase sustainability of the sector. 

Independent and objective
Besides the administrative organisation lodged in Stichting Super Supermarkt Keurmerk (SSK), the Vakcentrum is supported by two bodies:

The Certificeringsraad (Certification Board) issues the Certification Mark on the basis of submitted reports. This board also includes one member of the TNO SSK project team.

The Raad van Advies (Advisory Board) supports the Certification Mark in terms of its content. This Board consists of the following members:
• Prof. Dr Kitty Koelemeijer, Professor of Marketing at Nyenrode Business University and Director of the Market and Supply Chain Management cluster.
• Jan-Peter Müller, Managing Director of Müller Fresh Food Logistics (MFFL);
• Peter Vogelzang, KNVB Supervisory Board, former police chief for the Utrecht Region;
• Ruud Koornstra, Director of Tendris Holding, sustainable business operator and inventor of the Pharox LED lamp;
• Henk Gianotten, Director of Panteia / EIM
• Rob Benjamens, Director / Partner of Conclusion Communication Architects, communications expert.

The benefits of the SSK Certification Mark in brief:
• As a local responsible business operator, you distinctively position yourself and strengthen the loyalty of your customers to your retail business;
• You are a fully-involved and valued contact for local authorities;
• You structurally and profitably incorporate responsible business practices in your business;
• You benefit from the expertise of the Vakcentrum and TNO, and are informed about the newest social and technical innovations in the area of sustainability;
• The Vakcentrum supports the Certification Mark with local, innovative communications.

National and regional publicity
The Super Supermarket Certification Mark gives the opportunity to distinctively position yourself in relation to your customers and local authorities, but this positioning must of course be well known. The Vakcentrum shall take care of the communications with regional and local media and assist business operators with their local and in-store publicity. The Vakcentrum shall seek national publicity for the award of the initial Certification Mark. In brief, the Netherlands will hear about the certification! 

With the Vakcentrum, you never stand alone!
The Vakcentrum is the sector organisation for independent business operators in retail sales. As a centre of expertise for independent retailers, the Vakcentrum supports its members in several ways, including the development and implementation of socially responsible business policies. With the development of the Certification Mark, the Vakcentrum offers business operators the opportunity to distinctively position themselves with regard to customers and local authorities. The centre also wishes to raise the level of socially responsible business practices in the sector, this by sharing knowledge and encouraging innovative sustainability initiatives. To guarantee objectivity, the Vakcentrum has housed the Certification Mark in Stichting SSK, which works with an independent Advisory Board and Certification Board.