ACI Group urges brands to strengthen supplier oversight as regulatory and sustainability pressures intensify

Brands are increasingly expected to demonstrate full traceability, ethical sourcing, and sustainable practices from raw materials through to finished products, with strategic collaboration across the supply chain becoming essential for safeguarding product integrity and consumer confidence. 

ACI Group advocates that businesses move beyond documentation and supplier assurances to embed transparency and first-hand validation at every stage of their supply chains. By doing so, brands can demonstrate responsibility to consumers, protect product quality, and future-proof operations in an increasingly regulated and sustainability-conscious market. 

“Brands today are expected to do more than rely on paperwork alone,” said Sam Lubbock-Smith, Business Development Manager at ACI Group. “First-hand engagement such as site visits enable companies to verify sourcing practices, quality systems, and innovation capabilities while building relationships that support long-term credibility and consumer trust.” 

ACI Group recently facilitated a two-day site visit in Spain with premium supplement brand Viridian to explore the operations of Spanish ingredient specialist Alvinesa.

The immersive visit provided an end-to-end view of Alvinesa’s upcycled ingredient supply chain, from vineyard and winery partners through to manufacturing, laboratory testing, and new product development. Observing grape and olive materials traced from farm to finished extract offered Viridian confidence in the integrity and transparency of the supply chain, while demonstrating how upcycled agricultural by-products can be transformed into high-value, sustainable nutraceutical ingredients. 

The visit also highlighted the benefits of rigorous supplier engagement. Alvinesa’s technical rigour - from on-site laboratory testing to new product development processes -  assures the ingredient purity, safety, and consistency expected by premium brands. Equally important, the openness and collaborative mindset of the Alvinesa team reinforced the value of true partnership, showing how knowledge-sharing and joint innovation can strengthen relationships and foster future product development. 

“End-to-end transparency, sustainable sourcing, and structured supplier engagement are no longer optional,” added Lubbock-Smith. “Brands that prioritise oversight and collaboration at every stage of the supply chain strengthen credibility, safeguard quality, and position themselves to meet both regulatory expectations and consumer demand for sustainability.” 

Alongside operational insight, the site visit offered opportunities to capture authentic, origin-level content from vineyards, wineries, and olive groves. In future, this will support educational initiatives, marketing, and storytelling while highlighting provenance, traceability, and responsible sourcing. 

For more information on ACI Group’s approach to supply chain transparency, sustainability, and ingredient validation, contact the team today.