Health and Nutrition 

 

The topic of health and nutrition remains to be a significant topic for BJC to actively foster and manage, which is evident from BJC’s vision to be Your Trusted Partner for a Sustainable Better Living. This commitment derived from BJC’s recognition to the importance of sufficient nutrition as an essential building block to keep current and future human population healthy across their respective lifespan, free from nutrient-related health issues, such as type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, and obesity, enabling the human population to live a longer and happier life. This is further enforced as BJC acknowledge the actual and potential, negative and positive impacts on the economy, environment, and people, including impacts on their human rights to adequate food and nutrition.

As a company with operations related to food and food related products through its modern retail and consumer supply chains, BJC is directly and indirectly involved with the topic and can positively contribute towards the issue by sourcing and provision of health and nutritious products, knowledge sharing and training to customers and management of health and nutritious products to retain their benefits. Should BJC successfully manage these topics, it will benefit from increase customer, customer loyalty, positive corporate image and increase revenue, while failure to do so, will result in negative backlash and lost of customer interest in the company. 

 

BJC Group places great importance on health and safety of consumers by providing customers with high nutrition value and health benefits of the products. Our products have been developed with efficient production processes with that meets international standards along with communication and responsible activities. BJC Group focuses on quality of products, research and development of new product reformulation by defining the scope of developing nutritious products as well as taking into account other factors that may affect product quality and consumer safety. In addition, product sizes, accurate product labels, communication channels and related activities and communication channels, and health-related activities are processes that BJC place these conditions in high priority - BJC Health and Nutrition Statement.

 

 

 

 

Health and Nutrition Policy and Commitment

At BJC, we believe empowering consumers with clear, accurate, and scientifically validated nutrition information is fundamental to building a healthier society. We are committed to ensuring that every product we make and sell helps customers make informed choices that improve their well-being.

Our Key Commitments:

• Improving health & nutrition of products
  BJC continually reformulates and develops products to reduce sodium, sugar, saturated fat, and trans fat, while adding beneficial nutrients. Product innovation is guided by Thai FDA standards and the Healthier Choice logo criteria, ensuring healthier options are available across our portfolio.

  • The Healthier Choice Logo is a front-of-pack nutrition labelling scheme introduced and regulated by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The logo is granted to food and beverage products that meet strict nutritional criteria, such as reduced sugar, sodium, saturated fat, and energy, as well as inclusion of beneficial nutrients. Its purpose is to help consumers easily identify healthier alternatives at the point of purchase and encourage manufacturers to reformulate products towards better nutritional quality. 

• Improving affordability or accessibility of products
  Healthy and nutritious food options are made widely available across all Big C formats, Don Jai community stores, and other partner outlets nationwide, as well as through online platforms. This extensive distribution network ensures that nutritious products are affordable and accessible to all segments of society, both in Thailand and across the region.

• Product portion size and context to discourage excess consumption
  Packaging, serving sizes, and portion guidance are designed responsibly to encourage balanced consumption. This ensures that products are presented in ways that help consumers avoid overconsumption, in line with Thai FDA labelling standards.

• Marketing communications accurately represents the characteristics of the product featured
  All marketing materials follow Thai FDA regulations to ensure accuracy in representing taste, nutritional value, size, and health benefits. BJC does not allow misleading claims, and all product information is communicated truthfully, ensuring consumers can trust what they see and hear in advertising.

• All health & nutrition information and claims have a scientific basis
  Every nutrition or health claim is supported by scientific evidence and complies with Thai FDA criteria. BJC ensures that claims are transparent, verifiable, and provide consumers with credible information.

• Disclosure of supplementary nutrition information on all products in all markets
  Beyond mandatory labelling, BJC provides supplementary nutrition information such as the Healthier Choice logo and front-of-pack cues. These help consumers quickly identify healthier alternatives and understand nutritional benefits at a glance.

• Application of nutrient declaration on all products in all markets
  Nutritional content—including energy, macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals—is declared on all applicable products across all our operating markets, in line with Thai FDA requirements. This provides customers with the information they need to make informed decisions about their diet.

 

Health and Nutrition Management Approach 

Through BJC’s operation within the food and staple retailing industry, health and nutrition remain to be a prominent indicator used by consumers to assess product safety and quality, especially in food and food related products. For this reason, health and nutrition remain to be one of BJC’s top priorities, continuously striving to uphold, identify, implement, and improve product health and nutrition’s.

This is governed through the Health and Nutrition Advisory Panel, established by the Management Board, which comprises of both internal experts from relevant departments including, Quality Assurance, Research & Development, Marketing, Sales, Product Development, Specialty and Sustainability and Risk Management, and external experts from the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO). Since its establishment, the advisory panel remains active in the assessment, identification, research and update of applicable policies, frameworks, laws, and initiatives to foster and promotes product health and nutrition beyond the minimum requirements. This have since been developed into the corporate-wide Health and Nutrition Policy, comprising of the following guidelines.  

1.       Product

• BJC places importance on the production and distribution of quality and standard products that comply with laws, regulations and standards of Thailand and trading partner with higher standard, including any products related to government projects.
• Support the research and development of new product reformulation that has greater health benefits and meet customers’ needs.
• Promote variety of serving size and packaging of products so that consumers can select the amount of calories and/ or the amount of nutrients consumed as appropriate for their health.

2.       Data access and communication

• Product label must provide accurate information of ingredient, usage, and storage that comply with the standard required by laws and regulations of Thailand for assisting consumers to acknowledge nutrition facts and properly preserve nutritive value of products.
• Provide information on wellbeing and healthy diet for building better awareness to customers through communication channels.
• There are communication channels to receive beneficial suggestions related to health and nutrition to improve quality of products with healthy nutritional value.

3.       Activities and promotions

• Continuously support health-related activities for customers and employees.

 

 

Alignment with External Health & Nutrition Benchmarks

Berli Jucker Public Company Limited (BJC) ensures that its Health & Nutrition criteria are aligned with external benchmarks, with a primary emphasis on Thai FDA Regulations and the Thai Recommended Daily Intakes (Thai RDI). By following these national standards—including nutrient claim criteria, nutrition labelling requirements, and the Healthier Choice Logo—BJC guarantees that its product development and communication practices are legally compliant, transparent, and scientifically substantiated. In addition, BJC’s Health & Nutrition criteria are also aligned with internationally recognized external benchmarks such as the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on sugar, sodium, fat, and trans-fat reduction.This dual alignment ensures that BJC’s nutrition commitments meet both national and international standards, reinforcing the company’s credibility and responsibility towards consumer health and well-being.

BJC follows the Thai FDA’s regulations to ensure that nutrition and health claims are legally compliant and scientifically valid. The relevant regulations include:

• Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 182) B.E. 2541: Nutritional labelling requirements for claims.
• Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 374) B.E. 2559: Nutrient claim criteria, which define the minimum nutrient content required to state “source of” (≥15% Thai RDI) or “high in” (≥30% Thai RDI).
• Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 394) B.E. 2561: Nutrition labelling format and declaration of %Thai RDI on packaging.
• Healthier Choice Logo Criteria: Thai FDA-endorsed nutrition standards designed to encourage reduced intake of sugar, sodium, and fat across product categories.

 

Health and Nutrition Advisory Panel

 

Health and Nutrition Advisory Panel has been appointed, consisting of experts and experienced personnel in health and nutrition, including the chairman and other members, all of whom are appointed by the Company's Management Board. The chairman of the panel is a representative from The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), and other members are from health and nutrition related company or business unit such as Berli Jucker Food Co., Ltd. The panel is responsible for initiating policies and business framework to support safe, healthy and nutritious products offered to the consumers. This also includes updating information on law and regulations, new market knowledge and innovation related to health and nutrition. The panel commits to meet at least once a year and ensures that all business units have efficient production process in accordance with international standards on product nutrition. In 2024, the panel had a total of 1 meeting. 

 

 

Health and Nutrition Strategy

 

As a major food and non-food producer and retailer in the country, BJC places great importance on health and safety of consumers by providing customers with high nutrition value and health benefits of the products. The products have been developed with efficient production processes that meets international standards along with communication and responsible activities. In order to offer nutritious products that most suitable for different health conditions of consumers groups, as well as promoting greater understanding and ensuring accessibility to quality and nutritious food, BJC focuses on quality of products, research and development of new product reformulation, serving size, product labeling, and communication channels for customers, and health-related activities.

 

 

Health and Nutrition Research and Development

 

As a major food and non-food producer and retailer in the country, BJC places great importance on health and safety of consumers by providing customers with high nutrition value and health benefits of the products assists them to independently select products most suitable to their lifestyles. Our products have been developed with efficient production processes with that meets international standards along with communication and responsible activities. In order to offer nutritious products that most suitable for different health conditions of consumers groups, as well as promoting greater understanding and ensuring accessibility to quality and nutritious food by providing accurate nutrition fact on product for customer. BJC focuses on quality of products, research and development of new product reformulation by defining the scope of developing nutritious products as well as taking into account other factors that may affect product quality and consumer safety. In addition, product sizes, accurate product labels, communication channels and related activities and communication channels, and health-related activities are processing that BJC place these conditions in high priority.

 

BJC invests in a research and development department to improve the nutrition of its products. . For example, Big C has been continuously developing a new product line consisting of healthy options. These include healthy menus with high protein content, fibers and vitamins essential to leading a healthy life style. In 2024, Big C has developed additional healthy menus of silver age ready-to-eat food, which contain easy-to-digest ingredients, lower sugar and lower sodium. Moreover, each department also has a systematic process to develop the new product lines for private labels and own-brand products. 

 

According to clause 1.2 from the Health and Nutrition Policy, BJC supports the research and development of new product reformulation that has greater health benefits and meet customers’ needs. BJC has a road map to develop products that support consumer’s health and nutrition. BJC focuses on the area of financial, and customer satisfaction and customer demand as a whole. For instance, BJF develops its products by focusing on ‘less’ trend e.g. lower sodium, ‘no’ trend e.g. no trans-fat, and ‘more’ trend e.g. high fiber. Aging citizen and health-conscious customers are also the target groups for new product development, in addition to the general public. Big C also continuously produces house brand products with a focus on increased vitamins and nutrients in the cooked meal, adding more nutritious ingredients, such as vegetables, fish, and rice berry.

 

Products are developed in accordance with customer trends and behaviors. With the new generation’s lifestyle, the BJC selects safe raw materials with high nutrition value to be used in the healthy product line. Healthy Menu and Healthier Choice products released under Big C’s private label line which has adopted criteria and standards announced by the Notification of the Department of Public Health No. 182 B.E. 2541. As BJC strictly strives to comply with all related regulations requirements, the government’s healthy nutrition criteria have been thoroughly gone through in order to adopt and ensure that healthy products align. Moreover, supporting the Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health of Thailand’s campaign, Big C encourages customers to purchase the New Year's gift baskets displaying a healthier choice symbol that contain nutritional alternatives for recipients' health.

 

Big C also committed to enhancing the health and well-being of our customers through a comprehensive Health and Nutrition Improvement Program. This initiative focuses on expanding our range of nutritious products, including organic, low-fat, low-sugar, and gluten-free options, alongside a steady supply of fresh fruits and vegetables. To further support our customers' health goals, we offer personalized nutrition plans, educational workshops, and online resources featuring expert advice, healthy recipes, and tips on maintaining a balanced diet.

 

Moreover, Big C is dedicated to improving its product offerings and actively engaging with customers and the community. Our upgraded loyalty program incentivizes the purchase of health and nutrition items, while our well-trained staff provides expert guidance to assist customers in making informed choices. Additionally, we collaborate with local health organizations, schools, and community centers to advocate for and encourage the adoption of nutritious dietary practices and wellness routines through targeted initiatives and themed gatherings. By integrating these efforts, Big C aims to make healthy living more accessible and convenient, thereby promoting the overall well-being of our community.

 

R&D Investment to Improve Nutrition

In 2024, Berli Jucker Foods allocated approximately 19% of its total R&D investment specifically to improving the nutritional profile of its products. This commitment reflects the Group’s focus on enhancing consumer health and supporting better eating habits. The investment covered a range of activities including microbial analysis, pilot testing, consumer testing, and nutrition analysis, all aimed at strengthening product safety, reducing unhealthy components, and increasing beneficial nutrients. By embedding nutrition improvements into its R&D priorities, BJC ensures that its food portfolio evolves to provide greater health benefits and respond to the dietary needs of a wide range of consumers.

 

R&D Investment to Improve Affordability and Accessibility of Healthy Products

BJC Specialties has invested in new processing innovation within its chilled meal box (ready-to-eat) production line, extending product shelf life from 4 days to 7 days without preservatives. This development enhances product safety and freshness while maintaining nutritional quality.

Key benefits include:

• Improving affordability or accessibility of products: By reducing spoilage and food waste during storage and transportation, production costs and distribution losses are lowered, enabling products to be offered at competitive prices. Longer shelf life also allows these products to be distributed beyond urban centers to suburban and rural markets, including low-resource areas where cold-chain infrastructure is limited. This ensures that nutritious and convenient meal options remain affordable and accessible to a broader base of consumers, while also improving food security and reducing environmental impacts associated with waste.

• Improving health & nutrition of products: The innovation ensures product freshness and safety without reliance on artificial preservatives.

• Examples of healthy meal options: The ready-to-eat product range includes nutritious selections such as Rice with Dory Fish in Three-Flavored Sauce and Egg Noodles with Chicken and Chicken Meatballs which provide consumers with healthier and more convenient meal choices.

This initiative demonstrates BJC’s commitment to applying R&D investment to improve consumer well-being and accessibility, in line with international standards on nutrition and food safety.

 

 

 

 

Nutririon Profilling and Fortification Targets

At Berli Jucker Foods (BJF), we are committed to systematically assessing and improving the nutritional quality of our products through targeted nutrient profiling and fortification strategies.

Nutrition Profiling System (NPS)

We have in place a structured sodium monitoring framework, which functions as a targeted Nutrition Profiling System for our products in key categories. Under this system, each product’s sodium content is measured and benchmarked against average market values for the same product group.

• Pass (≤ 500 mg/FG 100 g): Product meets our sodium benchmark and continues with the current formulation.
• Not Pass (> 500 mg/FG 100 g): Product undergoes recipe reformulation to reduce sodium to within target thresholds.

While currently focused on sodium, a nutrient of concern for public health, this approach uses a clear methodology and decision process to evaluate nutritional quality, guide product reformulation, and align with recognized dietary guidance. This system supports our ambition to expand into multi-nutrient profiling in the future, covering factors such as sugar, fat, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals.
 

Quantified Targets to Reduce Levels of Sodium

BJC has established quantified targets to systematically reduce unhealthy nutrients in our product portfolio.

Sodium (Snacks): Through our Nutrition Profiling System (NPS), each product’s sodium content is benchmarked against market averages. Products with sodium levels above 500 mg per 100 g (Not Pass) are required to undergo recipe reformulation to meet the threshold, while products ≤ 500 mg/100 g (Pass) continue with current formulation. This ensures a measurable and consistent reduction of sodium across key snack and food categories.

 

Quantified Targets for Fortified Foods

Quantified Targets:
BJC Foods has established quantified fortification targets to enhance the nutritional profile of its products. For example, all DOZO Best Bite snack products are fortified to deliver 15% of the Thai Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for both Vitamin B1 and Calcium per serving. This requirement is applied consistently across the product line to ensure that every product formulation maintains these nutrient levels at all times.

In addition, BJC has set a standing nutrition target that 100% of new product launches under its core snack and confectionery brands (DOZO, DOZO Best Bite, Puff Stick, and Campus Chocolate) must be fortified with at least one beneficial nutrient—such as vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, protein, or whole grains.

 

Progress of Health & Nutrition targets:
BJC fully met these targets in 2024:

• 100% of new launches were fortified with at least one beneficial nutrient.

• DOZO Best Bite Organic Super Berry was enriched with fruit powders, dietary fiber (Inulin), and rice protein.

• DOZO Best Bite Senbei – Fortified with Vitamin B1 and Calcium across multiple flavors (Original, Vegetable, Banana, Strawberry).

• DOZO Puff Stick was fortified with Calcium, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C.

• DOZO Rice Mix incorporated multigrains (whole wheat, corn, rice, oat flour) to increase fiber and whole-grain intake.

• Campus Chocolate was fortified with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, and essential minerals.

• Flagship fortification at the DOZO Best Bite line continued to deliver 15% RDI of Vitamin B1 and Calcium per serving, consistently applied across flavors.

• Reduction Achievements: Implemented a Nutrition Profiling System (NPS) to monitor sodium levels in snack products. Products above 500 mg sodium per 100 g underwent reformulation, ensuring reductions within the target threshold.

 

Quantified outcomes:

• Fortified SKUs recorded strong consumer demand, with DOZO Best Bite Strawberry sales increasing 143% YoY and DOZO Puff Stick (Milk flavor) sales growing 142% YoY.

• Fortified products collectively expanded their contribution to BJC’s food portfolio, reinforcing the effectiveness of the nutrition strategy.

 

 

 

Genetically Modified Organisms Strategy

 

In order to deliver good quality and safe products to consumers, BJC  has established Genetically Modified Organisms Policy 2020 as a guideline for products that contain GMOs or ingredients derived from GMOs as follows:

 

1. BJC has transparent and comprehensive policy to comply with the laws and regulations on GMOs of any country in which we operate or invest.

2. The procurement of raw materials must come from reliable sources; the raw materials produced from such sources must properly apply traceability system of genetic modification process product manufacturing, raw material storage and storage of inventories have to be carried out with quality and standard. Products related to GMOs must be verified and being solved problems appropriately to prevent contamination or leakage.

3. Publicly disclose information about GMOs on product label as required by laws and regulations, including any other facts to maintain consumer trust.

4. Communicate product information and effect which related to GMOs to customers through channels appropriately.

5. Provided communication channels to gather opinion and inquiry, especially consumer group regarding any concern about GMOs.

 

 

 

 

Genetically Modified Organisms Assessment

 

As BJC and its subsidiaries source raw materials from approved suppliers and quality farmers, some of their raw materials may contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Thereby, BJC strictly comply with GMOs related laws and regulations. GMOs manual is also available, outlining the requirements for suppliers. For Big C brand products, suppliers are required to sign acknowledgement of quality control procedure for products with potential GMOs exposure, which they have to comply with. They are also requested to report BJC in case of any potential GMOs exposure in the products they produce for BJC. Moreover, BJC conduct random GMOs screening once a year for on-shelf products with potential GMOs exposure, such as soy, corn, and tomato products. BJC also have auditors carry out compliance audit against what the suppliers have informed us at suppliers’ factories at least once a year

 

For Big C brand, BJC consistently conducts audit and disclosure process, and ensures that customers are well informed whether a product contains GMOs or not. The process includes;

1. Providing a manual/handbook for handling and monitoring products under the brand that buyers have defined, in regard to food derived from GMOs.

2. Providing documents to notify suppliers of quality inspection agreement and production site inspection.

3. Issuing an official letter, confirming the use of GMOs contaminated raw materials or likely GMOs contaminated raw materials from supplier.

4. Conducting GMOs screening by inspecting and analyzing products randomly from storefront shelves.  The GMOs Screening is conducted once a year.

5. Inspecting the compliance of the use of raw materials with GMOs at the manufacturer's plant. The auditor who audits the plant will perform the inspection and report it to Big C.

 

 

Product Labelling

 

BJC has a systematic approach to product labeling when developing new products. For example, at Big C, as part of the Private Label New Product Development Process, all product labeling must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before launching. For both fresh and dry food house brand products, BJC complies with the announcement of the Ministry of Public Health in terms of product labeling. BJC emphasizes clear and sufficient product labeling in order to support customers in their decision-making when selecting products - The house brand food products under Big C and Happy Price brands, always display Company-specific health & nutrition labelling scheme, including energy (Kcal), sugar (gram), fat (gram), and sodium (gram), which aligns with the Guideline Daily Amount (GDA). - Products under Big C and Happy Price brands display nutrition information, table including nutrition facts, ingredients, uses, and storage as required by law, including front-of-pack and back-of-pack labelling​​​​​, uniform list of ingredients, introduction of guideline daily amounts/reference intake.

 

 

 

 

Portion-control Packaging Design

In addition to reformulating products to improve nutritional quality, BJC has integrated portion-control packaging design into product development. This includes offering single-serving packs (such as DOZO Best Bite for children), resealable snack packs (such as TASTO Signature Salted Egg Potato Crisps Original Flavor) that support mindful consumption, and clear labelling with recommended serving sizes in line with Thai FDA guidelines. These packaging innovations are designed to encourage consumers to enjoy products responsibly, help reduce overconsumption, and promote balanced eating habits.

 

Reduce Sugar Commitment 

 

Since 2022, Big C representatives participated in the launch of the “Reduce Sugar, Order with Ease” platform. The platform aims to consolidates a collection of beverage shops which commits to and pass the “Sweetness scale” assessment, certified by the Department of Health, to promote and offer customers with a healthier drink alternative with a cap of 5% sweetness. Big C passes the assessment for the Wawee Coffee brand, confirming BJC’s commitment towards reduced sugar products. 

 

Products specifically aimed at priority populations :   

BJC recognizes that infants and young children represent a priority population disproportionately affected by nutrition challenges, requiring tailored products that support healthy growth and development. To address this need, Berli Jucker Foods developed DOZO Best Bite — a rice snack specifically formulated for children aged 6 months to 3 years.

DOZO Best Bite is produced from high-quality Japanese rice and is baked, not fried, making it a healthier option for children. The product is designed to provide a light, nutritious snack that supports early development by helping children practice chewing skills while enjoying a safe and age-appropriate food. Its mild flavor and soft, crunchy texture make it suitable for young children’s taste preferences and nutritional needs.

By offering DOZO Best Bite, BJC contributes to improving access to nutritious and developmentally supportive foods for infants and toddlers. This product reflects the company’s commitment to health equity, responsible nutrition, and the wellbeing of vulnerable populations, in line with its broader sustainability and nutrition strategy.

 

Revenue from products with:	Unit	2021	2022	2023	2024
Other nutrition quality systems : Healthier Choice Logos Total revenue from healthy products	Baht	5,842,069,471	5,923,726,625	6,111,100,796	6,143,082,200
Total food & beverage revenue	Baht	48,506,752,120	50,003,428,373	51,996,312,766	54,367,381,292
% Healthy products revenue	Percentage (%)	12.04383	11.84664	11.75295	11.29921