GFSI China Day 2025: New Strategies Driving Supply Chain Security in A Dynamic Market

The GFSI China Day 2025, held during the broader CGF China Day in Beijing, reinforced the industry’s collective mission to advance food safety across one of the world’s most dynamic markets. The event served as a crucial platform for the industry leaders of the GFSI China Local Group to tackle complex challenges, exchange best practices, and define a path forward for food safety and integrity.

The core message from the event was one of strategic evolution. Experts advocated for a necessary shift from traditional, hazard-focused management to a more comprehensive risk-based mindset. This strategic direction is vital for strengthening vulnerable areas across the supply chain, such as transportation and storage, and directly addressing modern concerns like information asymmetry, rumors, and food authenticity.

Key Takeaways and Hot Topics

The discussions covered the full spectrum of food safety management, highlighting four major themes:

Elevating Standards and Building Capacity

Maintaining the integrity of the GFSI framework was a central point of discussion. Attendees emphasised the absolute necessity of elevating standards and focusing on continuous improvement in certification practices. This included a critical look at auditor competence and the rigorous adherence to certification body standards to ensure the credibility of the entire GFSI system. The collective commitment is to build a robust foundation where high-quality auditing upholds the benchmark of food safety excellence.

The Digital Transformation of Food Safety

Technology is rapidly becoming the essential enabler for next-generation food safety. Digitalisation is moving food safety from a reactive measure to a predictive, intelligent system. Industry leaders shared compelling examples of this transformation:

• Starbucks China showcased its “Smart Food Safety” system, an integrated solution that uses full-chain data, IoT sensors, and remote monitoring to achieve seamless, end-to-end management and minimize human error.
• Mengniu Group detailed its systematic approach to risk management, leveraging advanced technological methods, including gene sequencing, to precisely identify and manage microbial risk points across their value chain.

Sustainability and Environmental Resilience

Beyond technology, discussions affirmed that environmental resilience is inseparable from food security. The focus included addressing critical resource challenges, such as global water scarcity. PepsiCo, for instance, shared their three-fold strategy for water management, underscoring that responsible resource use and quality assurance must be addressed together to ensure a stable food supply.

Co-Governance and Regulatory Alignment

Achieving food safety at scale requires strong co-governance between the private sector and regulatory bodies. Dong Chu from the China Chain-Store & Franchise Association (CCFA) highlighted the need for closer collaboration, especially as the rapid growth of online retail intensifies quality pressures on the offline sector. This collaboration emphasises the importance of stronger headquarters accountability and unified supply chain standards to safeguard consumers.

Practical Application of GFSI-Recognised Certification

A dedicated panel tackled the strategic implications of applying GFSI-Recognised Certification within the Chinese market. Companies like Yum China and Want Want Group engaged in a critical assessment of both the existing hurdles and the vast opportunities for future growth and acceptance of the certification. Their insights underscored the practical value of the GFSI framework as a globally recognised compliance assessment tool that supports China’s transition from a focus on product quantity to quality.

Continuing the Momentum

The overwhelming sentiment from GFSI China Day 2025 was a powerful call for continuous discussion and a steadfast commitment to innovation. By working together—from farm to table—the GFSI China Local Group and the wider industry are forging a more resilient, trustworthy, and safe food future for consumers in China and globally.