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 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.

 

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 2022, 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 processes that BJC place these conditions in high priority

 

To ensure nutritious foods and healthy products have been selected for customers, each BJC food subsidiary has their own Research and Development department. 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 2020, Big C has developed 5 additional healthy menus of silver age ready-to-eat food, which contain easy-to-digest ingredients, lower sugar and lower sodium. The menus are available at 34 Big C stores. 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 has 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.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

Organic Products

 

In the past few years, BJC has observed changing consumer trends, to adopt a healthier lifestyle, demanding access to healthier food and food related products and services, such as organic. In response to these changing market conditions, BJC and our subsidiaries have developed and implemented many initiatives to increase the proportion of products availability in stores to meet changing consumer demands. To oversee this, BJC has appointed an advisory panel, comprised of representatives from, Quality assurance department (QA), sales department, marketing department, and sustainability department, chaired by external industry experts.

The demand for organic products i.e. fruits and vegetables amongst Thai consumers continue to rise, as a result of to growing health concerns, and increasing number of health conscious consumers. In 2022, Big C have added over 70 more choices of organic vegetable to the shelves, making over 100 choices of organic vegetable available. The choices are available at 60 Big C stores or 39% of Big C Supercenters, accounted for 1.6% of the total revenue. 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

Food Journey

 

On October, 12, 2022, BJC celebrated the World Food Day, through the establishment of the Food Journey event at the BJC Head office, under the theme "Good for Us, Good for the Planet". The event aims to increase employee knowledge and awareness about food, emphasizing on food sustainability throughout the value chain from upstream to downstream, to elevate BJC Big C's capability to be the "Food Destination for Food Sustainability". 

The event included a sustainable marketplace, participated by over 30 well known suppliers of BJC Big C, and external SMEs, whom BJC recognized their business operations, products, and services to contribute towards, and/or are related to the health, safety, and nutrition or consumers. In addition, health related services such as We fitness, and a special Healthy Food Fair talk by health experts also participated in the event.

Following the success of the event at the head office, the event was extended to the Big C Phra Ram 4 branch between 14th to 16th October, allowing the general public to also enjoy the food journey.

 

Reduce Sugar Commitment 

 

On the April 8, 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.