Complying with food safety standards is about much more than just ticking boxes. Trolli Guangzhou Confectionary Co Ltd has been operating in China for 13 years. Anita Yi, their Quality Assurance manager, tells EURObiz that for an operation of their size it is imperative that they fully comply with Chinese and international food standards, and ensure that all of their processes are rigorously tested on a regular basis.

All images courtesy of Trolli

In China regulatory authorities at all levels are strengthening supervision and management of food safety. New laws such as the Food Hygiene Law and the Quality and Safety Law, are helping to define the responsibilities of businesses involved in the food and beverage industry. Operators must plan and implement food safety policies based on these laws, and their policies must be documented, communicated and supported at all levels of their organisation. Focussing on food security, as well as the needs and expectations of customers and consumers, should be a priority.

Located in Shawan, a cultural town in Panyu District, Guangzhou, Trolli Guangzhou Confectionary Co Ltd (Trolli) has a total investment of USD 20.7 million. We specialise in the manufacture and marketing of gummy candies and are committed to product innovation. Our products sell in Europe, America, Australia and the Middle East, thus it is of paramount importance that our approach to food safety adheres to global standards.

In addition to complying with Chinese food safety requirements, our quality management system is also consistent with standards at our German factory, incorporating a comprehensive implementation of the International Food Standard (IFS), a standard which has been developed by German and French food associations, with additional assistance of other international retailers.

By receiving IFS certification, a company is able to demonstrate transparency throughout their supply chain, and the confidence this gives to clients can reduce overall costs by resulting in fewer customer audits. By receiving this certification from a third-party company it demonstrates to your clients that you are recognising and fulfilling your obligations to food safety. At Trolli our IFS audit is carried out by the German company TÜV Rheinland, and we are proud to say that every year we have received re-certification with a high rating.

In addition to adhering to relevant Chinese and international laws and regulations, we have also been cooperating with a number of well-known international food and pharmaceutical companies, such as Glaxo Smithkline, in order to continually enhance and refine our production operations. We have consistently received excellent food safety and quality system appraisals from them over the past two years.

As well as our implementation of IFS, we have also set up Hazard and Critical Control Points (HACCP). HACCP is a management system that enables us to control biological, physical and chemical hazards throughout our entire production process. From R&D and procurement, to production and final delivery to our customers, every step of the way is planned meticulously to ensure all processes adhere to the highest standards of food safety.

We carry out a comprehensive vendor evaluation and management system to guarantee the safety, as well as quality, of our raw materials. In addition to this, all auxiliary materials and packaging must be approved and coded in our system before they can be used in production. Once an item has been through the entire process, we then send samples to GBA Laboratory, a German third-party testing laboratory.

As a responsible food company in China, we also take the initiative to ask the other candy producers and food enterprises to execute and propagate food safety. We try our best to educate people so that they might understand all of the issues involved; we are dedicated to contributing to a safe and healthy food industry in China, and throughout the wider world. This can only be done by being systemic, vigilant and ensuring that we all adhere to the highest standards of food safety.

The Trolli brand belongs to Merderer GmbH, a German company specialising in the production of gummy candy, a global market they lead in innovation and in which they are second in terms of tonnage. Their products are exported to over 80 countries worldwide from its four factories in Germany, Spain, Czech Republic and China.