Ritco

Mario Trujillo, General Director

According to the Pan American Health Organization, approximately 77 million people in North and South America suffer an episode of foodborne illnesses each year. Over half of these cases affect children under five, highlighting the need for strict disinfection in the F&B sector. To meet stringent safety standards, organizations are exploring newer cleaning products. This pursuit is complicated by sustainability metrics, demanding a balance between disinfectant efficacy and environmental impact.

Ritco Industrial tackles this problem by offering exceptional advice, tools, and directions to address critical control points and mitigate safety and hygiene risks. It provides top-tier biodegradable cleaning products, disinfectants, specialized services, and guidance on establishing best practices across food production, processing, distribution, and preparation.

Founded 27 years ago, Ritco started as a chemical products company. Since then, it has transformed into a producer of biodegradable reagents, including formulations that harness the power of microorganisms to naturally break down pathogens and toxins.

A problem hindering food safety is the rise of new bacteria and microorganisms resistant to existing disinfectants. Ritco addresses this by designing, developing, testing, and manufacturing cost-effective products that eliminate rising bacterial strains while meeting the test standards for food-contact surface sanitizers and adhering to environmental regulations.

"We identify as professional hygiene consultants who surpass the role of traditional cleaning product vendors by consistently exceeding customer expectations,” says Mario Trujillo, general director at Ritco Industrial.

It continually evaluates novel and eco-friendly formulations against diverse pathogens. A recent example is the solution designed to address the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, highlighting its remarkable ability to neutralize 99.99 percent of the virus in 2 minutes.

Nurturing Safe Practices across the Industry

From a regulatory perspective, Ritco offers recommendations and training to help customers achieve and maintain national and international quality assurance certifications like Intertek Cristal, Distintivo H, HS Consulting, and Preverisk. These accreditations are instrumental in shaping a proactive risk management approach that ensures safety and well-being of stakeholders.
Working with customers weekly, Ritco’s sales advisors educate their staff to attain efficiency, cost savings, and best practices. They provide thorough but easy-to-understand classroom training on sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOP), good manufacturing practices (GMP), and other measures for clean and safe operations.

This is followed by practical sessions at the kitchens, food prep stations, or food manufacturing facilities, where client staff can apply what they learned to boost retention. It adopts a hands-on strategy complemented by streamlined audits to ensure a consistently safe work environment.

Resolving Outbreaks and Improving Food Safety

An excellent example of Ritco’s product benefits is when they helped contain salmonella outbreaks within a client facility by eliminating pathogens with extreme prejudice. By taking a direct leadership role in the hotel’s F&B department, its team conducted detailed audits to pinpoint the source of contagion. Coordinating and supervising cleaning and disinfecting efforts across kitchens, workstations, bars, and restaurants, it reviewed and improved cleaning procedures and engaged with management for enhanced support.

A strong sustainability culture lies at the heart of Ritco’s success. Its solar-powered manufacturing facility—which uses 85 percent biodegradable raw materials and recycles 70 percent of its one-gallon and 20-liter jugs—perfectly exemplifies the focus on greener operations. Outside the organization, the team participates in community recycling initiatives and beach clean-ups. Above all, its culture prioritizes swift client solutions upheld by unwavering ethics.

To enhance the eco-friendliness of products, its R&D team continues to seek alternative raw materials. This, combined with a strong emphasis on sustainability and dedication to ensuring widespread access to effective food safety measures, positions Ritco as a preferred partner in today's environmentally-conscious marketplace.