Manufactory

Philosophy

There is no substitute for quality.

We are an owner-managed family business in Osnabrück, Germany and we stand for premium sausage and ham specialities. Our products are characterized by traditional craftsmanship, state-of-the-art technology and attention to detail.

Our objectives

Through our products we want to contribute to a better quality of life. Our goal is to ensure that our customers are successful with our products and services. We assure our future and the independence of the company.

Our products and raw materials

Bedford stands for safe, consistent high-quality products with transparent statements concerning the ingredients. We guarantee high-quality raw materials and ingredients; we pay attention to the origin of these raw materials and ingredients and to the conditions of production. We ensure controlled production with documented test criteria. In the integrated Bedford management system, all procedures and testing regulations are defined to ensure product safety, product quality and the energy-efficient use of resources.

Our employees

The power of the company comes from the people who work together here. The satisfaction we experience in our work and a good working atmosphere are important to us.
Bedford lives from the fact that all employees are actively involved. Teamwork is our strength.
Our corporate culture is characterised by recognition of achievement and appreciation of people.
Bedford offers its employees a secure job and the freedom to do their work creatively and responsibly. We promote the individual development of our employees through targeted training and continuing education. We consider the person as a whole, therefore we create opportunities to combine career and family.
We like working for Bedford.

Our customers

Our customer has a face, we know him and his expectations. The direct line to the customer is our strength. Consequently we take care of each customer personally and individually through our field sales and inside sales organisations. Every customer is important to us.

Our suppliers

We rely on fair, reliable and cooperative partnership with our suppliers for solid and lasting business relationships.

Our responsibility

We are aware of our social and ecological responsibility and act accordingly. With the Osnabrück Peace Ham we support projects of Terre des Hommes. Our social commitment is aimed both at our employees and at people and institutions in the region. Occupational health and safety is a special concern to us. We ensure that our products and raw materials are manufactured in an environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient manner.
We prepare pleasure and enjoyment.

Our management principles

Trust
On the basis of trust we treat each other respectfully and help each other.

A framework of self-reliance
We provide employees with a framework of self-reliance for objective-oriented and results-oriented work.

Clear responsibility
Within the framework of the objectives for the entire company we manage our own area with a clear responsibility.

Review appropriately
We regularly review the objectives agreed with the employees.

Open and constructive
We address problems openly and solve them constructively.

Information
To achieve an optimal work result, we provide timely and comprehensive information in an appropriate form.

Improvements
We support the continuous improvement process in order to continuously develop our company.

Exploiting strengths
We exploit the strengths of our employees and promote their individual development.

Concentration on the essential
In our daily work we set priorities and concentrate on the essential.

Corporate philosophy
Bedford is an owner-managed family business in Osnabrück, Germany.
We produce premium-quality sausage and ham – exclusively for the deli counter. We combine traditional craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology. Craftsmanship and attention to detail are the hallmarks of our products. Thus flavour and appearance merge in an experience of enjoyment. Our commitment is: “There is no substitute for quality.”

We prepare pleasure and enjoyment.

Craftsmanship

The utmost care for great taste.

Production of our delicious products requires many different hand movements. Genuine craftsmanship that our employees master perfectly. With their skills and attention to detail, we ensure unique taste experiences each day anew.

All transparent.

Do you want to know where your ham came from?

We are one of the very first companies ever to make this possible: From birth, raising the animal to transport of the animal and the slaughter plant location; at Bedford everything is transparent. Because our quality is always something to be proud of.

Additional information is provided at schinken.de

SUSTAINABILITY

Energy management

With our energy policy, we commit ourselves to increasing our energy-efficiency in the long term through a continuous improvement process. To implement these goals, we have introduced an energy management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 50001.

Guaranteed green

We obtain 100% of the electricity we consume from renewable sources. Furthermore, the consumed electricity has been produced in a CO2-neutral manner.

Download certificate (0.4 MB)

Food standard

Bedford GmbH + Co KG, Wurst- & Schinkenmanufaktur has been certified according to the IFS Food Standard, at Higher Level, since 2013 and according to FSSC 22000 since 2023. This international and independent standard ensures that food safety requirements and the HACCP system are met.

Download (0.14 MB)

OSNABRÜCK PEACE HAM

A ham that improves the world.

Our initiative: 17 years of Osnabrück Peace Ham, that which is beyond price has been achieved. With every Osnabrück Peace Ham sold, 1 € automatically goes to one of our aid projects. Since the financing of the “Bedford School” in Angola has been secured by the Angolan government, Bedford has concentrated its commitment on the trouble spot Myanmar, formerly Burma. It is one of the poorest countries in the world. Here the population is still suffering from the consequences of decades of military dictatorship and oppression. Thanks to this commitment, more than 5000 children have already been helped.

Donation barometer

Osnabrück Peace Ham

Every Osnabrück Peace Ham contributes to joy and education. Bedford has been working with the aid organisation “terre des hommes” since 2003 and has already been able to raise a considerable amount of money with this delicious ham speciality.

Total amount donated in the period from 2003 to today:

1.210.366,00 €

This sum shows the current amount achieved since 2003 through sales of the Osnabrück Peace Ham from Bedford. Once a year the collected sum is formally presented to “terre des hommes”.

PEOPLE AT BEDFORD

For the best quality you need the best employees.

We are a family business and without our excellent employees our products would not be as high-quality and excellent as they are. Consequently we would like to introduce some of our employees to you at this point: the people at Bedford.