WE MAKE
FOOD TRUST VISIBLE
hello.
Because you need that level of consumer confidence toward the food they eat to have a successful brand.
BECAUSE WE LOVE TRUSTED FOOD
AT THEfoodimprint
We value the imprint food leaves beyond the plate more than everything.
Our mission is clear: We help food brands connect to the conscious consumer - turning compliance into credibility and trust into a visible strategic advantage.
So we have taken up the challenge to bring together food brands that care about integrity and the wellbeing of their customers and the conscious consumer who want to know what exactly they are eating and where there food comes from.
We exist to establish global FOOD TRUST one brand at a time.
Meet Lindi..
She picks up a jar of tomato relish at her local market. She doesn’t know the founder personally — but something feels different.
The label reads: “Verified with care. Trusted for what’s inside.”
She smiles, and puts it in her basket.
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On the other side of that jar is Musa.
A food producer who grew up on the same soil where his tomatoes are now grown. He built his business from the ground up — fighting to get certified, to meet every compliance standard, and to do it right.
Not for fame. But for trust.
But here’s the thing.
Lindi didn’t buy the relish because it was compliant. Not what she could see.
She bought it because it made her feel safe. Seen. Cared for.
That’s the power of trust.
When food brands open up, when they share their truth,
when compliance becomes a story —
people don’t just buy.
They believe.
MY
Story
I am a passionate visionary who are always hungry for innovation! As the founder of THEFOODIMPRINT in 2009, my journey began as a consultant to the early day farmers who needed farm certification to export their fruit, a world where food safety and compliance often felt like an afterthought.
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Striving to live more healthy and be intentional of what my family put in their mouths, I quickly realized that food is more than just filling our bellies; it's a cornerstone of health, culture
and thriving community.
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On the one end my professional path led me to work closely with farmers, producers, and food businesses knowing what is their challenges in the area of completing all the checklists. I witnessed the struggles they encountered in meeting compliance standards while striving to maintain the integrity of their offerings and on the other hand, it became clear to me that many consumers, being a mother myself, felt uncertain about the safety of their food choices.
Now I strive to use transparency and trust to connect the two worlds.
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THE
vision
"To rebuild global trust in food and reducing food-related risk."
Building a future that shift in how we connect to food, brands and each other.​ We envision a world where food trust is visible, valued and vital.
Empowering brands and conscious consumers to shape a more trusted food system, we lead a movement that rebuild trust in food through compliance visibility, transparency, storytelling and education.​
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food trust
TM
"Reframing compliance as the new language of food branding."
Our proprietary framework that transforms certification, compliance, and brand values into consumer connection — using strategy, storytelling, and trust-building tools.
OUR
values
TRUST IN FOOD
We honour what's real, verified and safe.
Consumers deserves clarity,
not confusion.
TRANSFORMATION
We value the impact food has on the human body.
TRANSPARENCY
We build the consumer relationship that outlives the sale.
HUMAN WELLBEING
YOU CAN'T TASTE A CERTIFICATE,
BUT YOU CAN FEEL THE CARE BEHIND IT.
we build trust
Trust is not just a feeling - it's build on systems, certification and connection.​
WHAT I DO
MY APPROACH: "I turn invisible compliance into a brand advantage"
I help brands turn compliance into credibility - and trust into a visible, strategic advantage..
how I do it
THE FOOD TRUST METHOD
With The Food Trust Method, my propriety trust building system is a
3-phase transformation -
01
TRUST DISCOVERY
via the Food Trust Scorecard and Trust Report
02
TRUST TRANSLATION
Allign values with emotional, ethical and wellbeing consumer triggers
03
TRUST ACTIVATION
Use the FUTURE OF FOOD mark to go public
MEET THE
woman
BEHIND TRUSTED FOOD BRANDS
"The Food Trust Builder"
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I’m Belinda van der Merwe, visionary and the voice behind the Food Trust Movement.
For over a decade, I’ve worked behind the scenes in food safety, auditing, coaching, and system development, helping brands pass audits, meet standards, and stay compliant. But something was missing — the human side of food.
The emotion. The connection. The why behind it all.
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That’s when THEFOODIMPRINT added a new ingredient to the 'cause' and The Food Trust was born — a movement and platform where compliance meets consciousness, where brand trust is visible, and where food tells a story people actually want to hear.
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I help food brands do more than just comply — I help them connect. With the conscious consumer. With meaningful standards. And with the values that make their food worth trusting.
I believe food leaves an imprint — on our bodies, our emotions, and our world. And I’m here to make sure that imprint is one of trust, integrity, and care.
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Let’s build food systems people believe in.
Let’s make trust your brand advantage.
