Food safety management system certification builds trust in Starbucks China.

Starbucks China required verification of its commitment to consistently improve its quality management system, integrate with global standards and ensure food safety for consumers.

Achieving FSSC 22000 certification – a GFSI globally recognised standard, proves that Starbucks comprehensive food safety management system can trace and assure ‘every link’ and ‘every bite’ from the start of the supply chain right through to store, from the roasting of coffee beans to the ‘last ten feet’ of the chain.

Leo Tsoi, President and COO of Starbucks China Retail said: “Behind this authoritative industry certification sits years of unremitting effort and hard work. Food safety is a top priority for Starbucks and not only have we set strict standards, but we consistently practice what we promise. Every day in every store, our partners deliver this promise through a consistent commitment to food safety, providing customers with a more trusted Starbucks experience and demonstrating our achievement in building a world-class food safety system. We are not perfect, but we will continue to work hard to build a protective wall of food safety for customers so that they can feel confident in the Starbucks brand. Today is not the end, but the start.”

Since opening its first store in Beijing in 1999, Starbucks has prioritised food safety as part of its social responsibility fulfilment, gradually establishing and perfecting a long-term strategy and implementing a ‘golden standard’ of food safety management. Over the past 20 years, Starbucks China has driven a collaborative approach, uniting management with store partners and suppliers with the factory assembly line. Each member of the Starbucks family has responsibility for food safety, embedding robust systems and taking practical actions to provide customers with a safe and assured Starbucks experience with each cup of coffee consumed, every single day.”

To further strengthen its own ‘golden standard’, Starbucks began the journey to FSSC 22000 certification in May 2018, inviting LRQA to audit the Starbucks Enterprise Management (China) Co., Ltd., Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Shanghai, and Starbucks Princi™ Songjiang Factory. Through concerted efforts from the company management and each related functional department, Starbucks has met the requirements of FSSC 22000 across its 180 suppliers, more than 4,000 stores and 55,000 partners across the country.

Eighteen months of effort has culminated in establishing the first full-range FSSC 22000 food safety management system covering coffee bean roasting, Princi Factory operations, suppliers and outlets, ensuring whole-process traceability from ingredient source to the retail terminal. As a result, Starbucks’ food safety risk prevention and control have been improved, setting a new benchmark for food safety in the catering retail industry. In the future, Starbucks will continue to commit to safety quality and excellent service, constantly carrying out improvements and embracing innovation in food safety management to achieve full-process control and traceability so that customers feel assured whenever they walk into a Starbucks in China.

Rhett Wang, Operation Manager of LRQA Certification and Business Assurance, Greater China, said: “As one the world's leading third-party certification businesses, our in-depth experience and commitment to share best practice enables Starbucks to further improve its food safety management system. China's catering industry is highly competitive and food safety has always been a concern for everyone. Only by establishing a food safety system covering the whole supply process can restaurant chains better establish a food safety guarantee and prevent risks through the effective use of control systems from source to store. This protect brands, makes consumers feel assured and helps businesses maintain competitive advantage.”