BRCGS was founded in the UK in 1996 by the world's leading retailers seeking to ensure compliance with food safety standards throughout the supply chain. The trade association, which was originally established as BRC, abbreviation of the British Retail Consortium, published its first technical standard, the BRC Food standard, in 1998. In 2000, shortly after the publication of its first technical standard, the association received GFSI approval with this standard.