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China - 23/02/07 Multi-service Approach for a Multinational Retailer in China With over 20,000 supermarket and hypermarkets, Chinese consumers have never had so much choice. However the phenomenal growth in retail sales in the last decade, from a negligible standing in the 90’s, has dramatically increased the number of food safety challenges. The country is vast, lacking a sophisticated logistics infrastructure, with an unskilled labour force, and is dominated by highly localized sales channels – thus increasing the number of hazards, health scares and damage to the environment. Meanwhile, consumer awareness and sophistication for better food hygiene continue to push for higher quality. In such a complex market, how is it possible to reduce food product risk, throughout the different stages of the supply chain? Our efforts with a large supermarket multinational are a true story of how to meet such challenges, and make a success of it. A big part was the inspection checklist, a list of evaluation criteria for the factory, the distribution chain and the retailer’s environment. This list not only included the retailer’s own requirements and Chinese regulatory benchmarks, but went further to incorporate SGS’s global experience of Chain of Custody concerns such as temperature control and goods yard management. This customised checklist ensured that both products & processes were hygiene monitored, at multiple points. These inspections, although thorough, were insufficient on their own and random product testing was necessary. Again, sampling had to occur at multiple supply points to ensure that the microbiological tests covered all critical stages of the supply chain. Sensory evaluation took product evaluation out of the laboratory and into the realm of the consumer – taste, smell and look were then assessed. This individual package of food monitoring & testing services has helped this multinational retailer achieve a high standard of quality control, helping to establish a reputation for superior produce. In turn this has increased brand awareness and facilitated a faster expansion of retail outlets in China. FURTHER INFORMATION |
