Hit enter to search

We interviewed Jan Kranghand, a Global Food Safety Conference delegate who goes way back with the GFSC, attending an astounding 12 out of the 13 editions of the annual event. Jan kindly took the time to tell us his about his GFSC experience!

We interviewed Jan Kranghand, a Global Food Safety Conference delegate who goes way back with the GFSC, attending an astounding 12 out of the 13 editions of the annual event. Jan kindly took the time to tell us his about his GFSC experience!


Jan Kranghand
METRO Cash & Carry
Director Regional QA MCCI Asia/Head of QA MCC China

We interviewed Jan Kranghand, a Global Food Safety Conference delegate who has attended an astounding 12 out of the 13 editions of the annual event. Jan kindly took the time to tell us his about his GFSC experience!

You go way back with the Global Food Safety Conference, don’t you?
Yes, I have attended all but one conference! The one I missed was in Orlando, as I was in the middle of being relocated to China for my job.

Why did you first attend the GFSC?
I was actually in the group of first-movers to set up the Global Food Safety Initiative, together with Kevin Swoffer and Jill Hollingsworth, the founder of the benchmark model.

You were a founding member” of the GFSI! Over the years, you’ve remained highly engaged it its work. Does attending the GFSC have a role to play in that?
Yes, I have been a chairman of a number of working over the years (Certification/Accreditation, Guidance document, Global Markets) and on the side line of the conferences we always had our Technical Working Group (TWG) meetings.

Besides that I have presented in a number of break-out sessions to give updates of the status and progress of that particular TWG. At the moment I am the Chairman of the Steering Committee of our local GFSI TWG in China.


What stands out most in your memory?

The time that Jill, Kevin and I locked ourselves up in the office of the FMI (Food Marketing Institute) in Washington for a couple days together with a pile of more than 100 food safety standards. Our aim was to write the one and only global food safety standard, but after some days of discussions we decided to create the – still existing – benchmark model.

Another thing that stands out for me is the harmonious way of working together with an array of industry peers discussing how to improve food safety globally.

What do you always look forward to the most?
At each and every conference we always formed a small group during the dinners and started singing songs from all kinds of different countries.

Favorite country?

They are all good!

Best networking moment?
It is difficult to remember one, because over the years there have been so many beautiful moments.

Most memorable presentation?
Frans Muller, former CEO of METRO Cash & Carry at the Munich conference.

Key take-aways?
I have done many things within the GFSI framework, but for me the Global Markets model is a proof that we are really working on enhancing the food safety level on a global scale. I am still very honored to have had the opportunity to be the first chairman of the Global Markets working group.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your GFSC story with us!
It’s truly inspirational and a great testimony to the work of the GFSI and the collaboration of food safety experts around the world via the Global Food Safety Conference.

Translate »