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HONG KONG, Aug. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Organised by GS1 Hong Kong, the 11th Food Safety Forum concluded successfully today, bringing together around 300 professionals from the food and beverage sector (F&B) to discuss the pressing issues about "Digitalisation for Food Safety in the Green Era". Ms. Irene Young, Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food) of the HKSAR Government, kick-started the event as the Guest of Honour. Mr. Anthony Li, Deputy Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food) of the HKSAR Government, Hon. Peter Shiu, Legislative Councilor (Wholesale and Retail) and Dr. Christine Wong, Controller of Centre for Food Safety of the HKSAR Government were also on-site as Award Presenters to give out a total of 36 commendations to 28 outstanding companies under the "Quality Food Scheme".
Sustainable Development in the F&B Industry
A joint survey released last year by GS1 HK and KPMG China revealed that 89% of consumers prefer brands with clear sustainability commitments. Among them, 65% are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products[1], underscoring the growing demand for low-carbon and environmentally friendly goods.
The guest of honour of the event, Ms. Irene Young, remarked in her opening speech, "Hong Kong's rigorous food safety system, extensive international trade network, and privileged access to the mainland market under the CEPA framework, have endowed our city with outstanding potential to serve as the region's leading food trade centre. Barcode technology, which is integral to the food supply chain, will take on an even more important role as a result. I hope the industry will seize the opportunities and work together to expand markets for Hong Kong's safe, high-quality foods, and share the 'good stories of Hong Kong' through our good food."
"Green & Digital Transformation" Reinvents the Future of Food Safety
Ms. Betty Leung, GS1 HK Board Member and Vice-Chairlady of GS1 HK's Food & Beverage Industry Advisory Board, highlighted that "go green" and "go digital" are the key for the industry to address global climate challenges, supply chain restructure, and evolving consumer trends. "By using technologies like big data, IoT and artificial intelligence, we can reduce carbon emissions at the source, promote circular economy, and provide credible 'green claims' for products. This helps our industry to shift from reactive food safety management to proactive, preventive smart approaches, ushering in a new era of innovation."
She added that product digitisation is vital to enhance consumer experience, support food safety, increase transparency, traceability, and promote sustainable development. The adoption of QR Code with GS1 standards enables comprehensive tracking of products' life cycle - from sourcing of raw materials, through production and logistics, to sales, recycling and final disposal. By embedding QR codes with batch numbers and expiry dates on packaging, retailers can ensure product freshness at checkout, preventing the sale of expired goods for strengthened food safety, reduced waste, and supporting effective recall management. These measures form the foundation of a "farm to table" traceability system, reinforcing consumer confidence.
Best Practices: "Quality Food Scheme" Driving Industry Progress
Senior executives from Café de Coral Group, DCH International Holdings, Lee Kum Kee International Holdings, Loscam (Greater China) Holdings, Maxim's Caterers, Million Group HK, Nestlé Hong Kong and Sun Generation shared their insights at the Forum, exploring how global standards and emerging technologies such as data analytics and artificial intelligence are driving food safety, transparency of product information, sustainable operations, and circular economy initiatives.
The "Quality Food Scheme ESG" launched last year recognised 18 companies in 2025. They are assessed mainly in accordance with GS1 Global Traceability Standard (GTS), MSCI ESG Indexes[2] and United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)[3] etc., encouraging businesses to put ESG into practices while upholding food safety and traceability. In addition, another 18 companies are honored under the "Quality Food Scheme" and "Quality Food Scheme+." Please refer to appendix for the awardee list, and visit www.gs1hk.org/zh-hk/quality-food-scheme for details of Schemes.
Ms. Anna Lin, Chief Executive of GS1 HK, noted, "Despite today's challenges in the F&B industry, many companies continue to champion food safety and sustainable development — demonstrated by their active participation in our 'Quality Food Scheme'. GS1 HK will continue to bring together the industry, government, consumers and other ecosystem stakeholders, driving industry innovation and knowledge sharing that raise local food safety standards for a sustainable future."
Photos download: Photo_for media
Appendix
Recognised Companies of "Quality Food Scheme Plus" 2025 (in alphabetical order):
Diamond Enterprise
- Café de Coral Holdings Ltd.
- DCH Logistics (Hong Kong) Ltd.
- DKSH Hong Kong Ltd.
- FrieslandCampina (HK) Ltd.
- Integrated Market Services Asia Ltd.
- International Gourmet Foods Ltd.
- KLN Logistics (Hong Kong) Ltd.
- Maxim's Caterers Ltd.
- Sims Trading Co. Ltd.
- Swire Coca-Cola HK
- Tai Hing Catering Group
- Tong Shun Hing Poultry (HK) Co. Ltd.
- Tsit Wing Coffee Co., Ltd.
- Vitasoy International Holdings Ltd.
- Watsons Water
Recognised Companies of "Quality Food Scheme" 2025 (in alphabetical order):
Gold Enterprise
- AEON Stores (HK) Co. Ltd.
- Aquaculture Technologies Asia Ltd. – Lau Fau Shan Indoor RAS Fish Farm
- Aquaculture Technologies Asia Ltd. – Tung Lung Chau Speckled Blue Grouper Farm
Recognised Companies of "Quality Food Scheme ESG" 2025 (in alphabetical order):
Innovation
- Café de Coral Holdings Ltd.
- China Resources Logistics (Group) Ltd.
- International Gourmet Foods Ltd.
- KLN Logistics (Hong Kong) Ltd.
- Tong Shun Hing Poultry (HK) Co. Ltd.
Technology
- DKSH Hong Kong Ltd.
- Loscam (Hong Kong) Ltd.
- Meiriki Japan Company Ltd.
- Nestlé Hong Kong Ltd.
- Watsons Water
Achievement
- BOTEC Blue Ocean Algae Membrane
- King Bakery Holdings Ltd.
- Murray Rice Company Ltd.
- Tai Hing Catering Group
- Tai Po Chun Hing Ltd.
- The Garden Company Ltd.
- Tsit Wing Coffee Co., Ltd.
- Wah Yuen Foods (H.K.) Co. Ltd.
About GS1 Hong Kong
Founded by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce in 1989, GS1 Hong Kong is the local chapter of GS1®. GS1 Hong Kong's mission is to empower businesses of their digital transformation, improve supply chain visibility and efficiency, ensure product authenticity, facilitate commerce connectivity and enable sustainable value chain through the provision of global supply chain standards (including GTIN & barcodes), and a full spectrum of platforms, solutions and services.
GS1 Hong Kong currently supports close to 8,000 corporate members from 20 sectors including retail & consumer packaged goods, food & beverage and food services, healthcare, apparel & footwear, logistics & ICT. By working closely with communities of trading partners, industry organizations, government, and technology providers, we can foster a collaborative ecosystem, paving the way for "Smarter Business, Better Life".
As a non-profit organization, GS1 develops and drives global adoption of supply chain standards. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, GS1 has over 115 national chapters in 150 countries.
Website：www.gs1hk.org
HONG KONG, Aug. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Organised by GS1 Hong Kong, the 11th Food Safety Forum concluded successfully today, bringing together around 300 professionals from the food and beverage sector (F&B) to discuss the pressing issues about "Digitalisation for Food Safety in the Green Era". Ms. Irene Young, Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food) of the HKSAR Government, kick-started the event as the Guest of Honour. Mr. Anthony Li, Deputy Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food) of the HKSAR Government, Hon. Peter Shiu, Legislative Councilor (Wholesale and Retail) and Dr. Christine Wong, Controller of Centre for Food Safety of the HKSAR Government were also on-site as Award Presenters to give out a total of 36 commendations to 28 outstanding companies under the "Quality Food Scheme".
Sustainable Development in the F&B Industry
A joint survey released last year by GS1 HK and KPMG China revealed that 89% of consumers prefer brands with clear sustainability commitments. Among them, 65% are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products[1], underscoring the growing demand for low-carbon and environmentally friendly goods.
The guest of honour of the event, Ms. Irene Young, remarked in her opening speech, "Hong Kong's rigorous food safety system, extensive international trade network, and privileged access to the mainland market under the CEPA framework, have endowed our city with outstanding potential to serve as the region's leading food trade centre. Barcode technology, which is integral to the food supply chain, will take on an even more important role as a result. I hope the industry will seize the opportunities and work together to expand markets for Hong Kong's safe, high-quality foods, and share the 'good stories of Hong Kong' through our good food."
"Green & Digital Transformation" Reinvents the Future of Food Safety
Ms. Betty Leung, GS1 HK Board Member and Vice-Chairlady of GS1 HK's Food & Beverage Industry Advisory Board, highlighted that "go green" and "go digital" are the key for the industry to address global climate challenges, supply chain restructure, and evolving consumer trends. "By using technologies like big data, IoT and artificial intelligence, we can reduce carbon emissions at the source, promote circular economy, and provide credible 'green claims' for products. This helps our industry to shift from reactive food safety management to proactive, preventive smart approaches, ushering in a new era of innovation."
She added that product digitisation is vital to enhance consumer experience, support food safety, increase transparency, traceability, and promote sustainable development. The adoption of QR Code with GS1 standards enables comprehensive tracking of products' life cycle - from sourcing of raw materials, through production and logistics, to sales, recycling and final disposal. By embedding QR codes with batch numbers and expiry dates on packaging, retailers can ensure product freshness at checkout, preventing the sale of expired goods for strengthened food safety, reduced waste, and supporting effective recall management. These measures form the foundation of a "farm to table" traceability system, reinforcing consumer confidence.
Best Practices: "Quality Food Scheme" Driving Industry Progress
Senior executives from Café de Coral Group, DCH International Holdings, Lee Kum Kee International Holdings, Loscam (Greater China) Holdings, Maxim's Caterers, Million Group HK, Nestlé Hong Kong and Sun Generation shared their insights at the Forum, exploring how global standards and emerging technologies such as data analytics and artificial intelligence are driving food safety, transparency of product information, sustainable operations, and circular economy initiatives.
The "Quality Food Scheme ESG" launched last year recognised 18 companies in 2025. They are assessed mainly in accordance with GS1 Global Traceability Standard (GTS), MSCI ESG Indexes[2] and United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)[3] etc., encouraging businesses to put ESG into practices while upholding food safety and traceability. In addition, another 18 companies are honored under the "Quality Food Scheme" and "Quality Food Scheme+." Please refer to appendix for the awardee list, and visit www.gs1hk.org/zh-hk/quality-food-scheme for details of Schemes.
Ms. Anna Lin, Chief Executive of GS1 HK, noted, "Despite today's challenges in the F&B industry, many companies continue to champion food safety and sustainable development — demonstrated by their active participation in our 'Quality Food Scheme'. GS1 HK will continue to bring together the industry, government, consumers and other ecosystem stakeholders, driving industry innovation and knowledge sharing that raise local food safety standards for a sustainable future."
Photos download: Photo_for media
Remarks:
[1]《Navigating the future of seamless commerce in Asia Pacific》, Oct 2024, GS1 HK & KPMG China: https://www.gs1hk.org/sites/default/files/publications/FINAL_navigating-the-future-of-seamless-commerce-in-asia-pacific.pdf
[2] MSCI ESG Index: https://bit.ly/47vsvfd
[3] United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals: https://edu.unicef.org.hk/zh-HK/global-goal
Appendix
Recognised Companies of "Quality Food Scheme Plus" 2025 (in alphabetical order):
Diamond Enterprise
- Café de Coral Holdings Ltd.
- DCH Logistics (Hong Kong) Ltd.
- DKSH Hong Kong Ltd.
- FrieslandCampina (HK) Ltd.
- Integrated Market Services Asia Ltd.
- International Gourmet Foods Ltd.
- KLN Logistics (Hong Kong) Ltd.
- Maxim's Caterers Ltd.
- Sims Trading Co. Ltd.
- Swire Coca-Cola HK
- Tai Hing Catering Group
- Tong Shun Hing Poultry (HK) Co. Ltd.
- Tsit Wing Coffee Co., Ltd.
- Vitasoy International Holdings Ltd.
- Watsons Water
Recognised Companies of "Quality Food Scheme" 2025 (in alphabetical order):
Gold Enterprise
- AEON Stores (HK) Co. Ltd.
- Aquaculture Technologies Asia Ltd. – Lau Fau Shan Indoor RAS Fish Farm
- Aquaculture Technologies Asia Ltd. – Tung Lung Chau Speckled Blue Grouper Farm
Recognised Companies of "Quality Food Scheme ESG" 2025 (in alphabetical order):
Innovation
- Café de Coral Holdings Ltd.
- China Resources Logistics (Group) Ltd.
- International Gourmet Foods Ltd.
- KLN Logistics (Hong Kong) Ltd.
- Tong Shun Hing Poultry (HK) Co. Ltd.
Technology
- DKSH Hong Kong Ltd.
- Loscam (Hong Kong) Ltd.
- Meiriki Japan Company Ltd.
- Nestlé Hong Kong Ltd.
- Watsons Water
Achievement
- BOTEC Blue Ocean Algae Membrane
- King Bakery Holdings Ltd.
- Murray Rice Company Ltd.
- Tai Hing Catering Group
- Tai Po Chun Hing Ltd.
- The Garden Company Ltd.
- Tsit Wing Coffee Co., Ltd.
- Wah Yuen Foods (H.K.) Co. Ltd.
About GS1 Hong Kong
Founded by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce in 1989, GS1 Hong Kong is the local chapter of GS1®. GS1 Hong Kong's mission is to empower businesses of their digital transformation, improve supply chain visibility and efficiency, ensure product authenticity, facilitate commerce connectivity and enable sustainable value chain through the provision of global supply chain standards (including GTIN & barcodes), and a full spectrum of platforms, solutions and services.
GS1 Hong Kong currently supports close to 8,000 corporate members from 20 sectors including retail & consumer packaged goods, food & beverage and food services, healthcare, apparel & footwear, logistics & ICT. By working closely with communities of trading partners, industry organizations, government, and technology providers, we can foster a collaborative ecosystem, paving the way for "Smarter Business, Better Life".
As a non-profit organization, GS1 develops and drives global adoption of supply chain standards. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, GS1 has over 115 national chapters in 150 countries.
Website：www.gs1hk.org
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
GS1 HK's Food Safety Forum 2025 Concludes Successfully Industry Accelerates Digital Transformation Towards a Greener Future
- New framework brings together Aon's Risk Capital and Human Capital data with public sentiment analysis from Gallup to create a portfolio view of risk
- Creates further clarity into how risks compound across four megatrends, how resilience is built and activated and where targeted actions can most effectively influence performance
DUBLIN, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, announced today that it is releasing insights from a new, data-driven tool to help organizations build sustainable resilience and unlock growth: Aon's Resilience Quotient.
Developed in collaboration with Gallup, Aon's Resilience Quotient responds to a critical insight: in a time of increasing populism and fragmented sources of information, quantitative data alone is not enough to make long-term decisions. Combining public sentiment on global issues with risk and people data and analytics enables greater clarity and confidence to invest and grow amidst uncertainty and volatility.
By integrating Aon's proprietary Risk Capital and Human Capital analytics with the results of Gallup's World Poll covering 140 countries for more than 20 years, the firm's Resilience Quotient captures both objective conditions and subjective sentiment, revealing where sentiment signals hidden risks and potential opportunities to achieve greater resilience. This system-level view enables leaders to spot emerging risks sooner, prioritize resilience investments and move from reactive risk management to proactive decision-making.
"When making decisions around investment, workforce or managing geopolitical risk, a portfolio view is far superior to a siloed perspective," said Greg Case, president and CEO of Aon. "Understanding sentiment can be an opportunity signal or an early warning. Leaders who are limited to only some of the relevant metrics risk missing the signals that matter most. Aon's Resilience Quotient delivers an integrated view to help organizations act decisively, strengthen resilience and unlock sustainable growth."
Four interconnected megatrends – Trade, Technology, Weather and Workforce – are reshaping the global operating environment in ways that traditional models struggle to anticipate. Aon's Resilience Quotient provides a clearer view of the tradeoffs within these interactions: how trade volatility can amplify technology risk, how climate pressures influence workforce mobility and how sentiment can either reinforce resilience or heighten operational risk, even when the fundamentals appear strong.
To illustrate the insights from its Resilience Quotient, the firm published three case studies addressing some of the most relevant and urgent issues facing the 2026 global economy:
- Realizing the Opportunity of AI: Securing Data Center Growth
Data centers are the backbone of the digital economy and with nearly $1.3 trillion projected to be invested globally in data centers by 2030, their rapid expansion brings unprecedented risks. Aon's Resilience Quotient shows that resilience varies sharply at the sub-national level, often more than underlying risk. Within the U.S., Iowa emerges as the most resilient destination for data center development, combining very low overall risk with exceptionally strong trade and weather resilience. "Aon's Resilience Quotient shows that Iowa's resilience–risk balance is roughly twice the national median, demonstrating how governance quality, institutional confidence and preparedness materially shape long-term infrastructure outcomes," said Joe Peiser, CEO of Commercial Risk Solutions at Aon. "This underscores the opportunity for leaders who understand the combined effect of low risk, resilient trade and weather systems and a strong foundation of public trust — factors that ultimately determine where AI infrastructure can grow at scale."
DUBLIN, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, announced today that it is releasing insights from a new, data-driven tool to help organizations build sustainable resilience and unlock growth: Aon's Resilience Quotient.
Developed in collaboration with Gallup, Aon's Resilience Quotient responds to a critical insight: in a time of increasing populism and fragmented sources of information, quantitative data alone is not enough to make long-term decisions. Combining public sentiment on global issues with risk and people data and analytics enables greater clarity and confidence to invest and grow amidst uncertainty and volatility.
By integrating Aon's proprietary Risk Capital and Human Capital analytics with the results of Gallup's World Poll covering 140 countries for more than 20 years, the firm's Resilience Quotient captures both objective conditions and subjective sentiment, revealing where sentiment signals hidden risks and potential opportunities to achieve greater resilience. This system-level view enables leaders to spot emerging risks sooner, prioritize resilience investments and move from reactive risk management to proactive decision-making.
"When making decisions around investment, workforce or managing geopolitical risk, a portfolio view is far superior to a siloed perspective," said Greg Case, president and CEO of Aon. "Understanding sentiment can be an opportunity signal or an early warning. Leaders who are limited to only some of the relevant metrics risk missing the signals that matter most. Aon's Resilience Quotient delivers an integrated view to help organizations act decisively, strengthen resilience and unlock sustainable growth."
Four interconnected megatrends – Trade, Technology, Weather and Workforce – are reshaping the global operating environment in ways that traditional models struggle to anticipate. Aon's Resilience Quotient provides a clearer view of the tradeoffs within these interactions: how trade volatility can amplify technology risk, how climate pressures influence workforce mobility and how sentiment can either reinforce resilience or heighten operational risk, even when the fundamentals appear strong.
To illustrate the insights from its Resilience Quotient, the firm published three case studies addressing some of the most relevant and urgent issues facing the 2026 global economy:
"Aon's Resilience Quotient shows that Iowa's resilience–risk balance is roughly twice the national median, demonstrating how governance quality, institutional confidence and preparedness materially shape long-term infrastructure outcomes," said Joe Peiser, CEO of Commercial Risk Solutions at Aon. "This underscores the opportunity for leaders who understand the combined effect of low risk, resilient trade and weather systems and a strong foundation of public trust — factors that ultimately determine where AI infrastructure can grow at scale."
- Workforce Transformation: AI Adoption and the Next Generation Workforce
The acceleration of AI adoption is transforming the workforce, but most organizations face a critical gap between the demand for AI skills and their readiness to adapt. The Resilience Quotient highlights how workforce engagement, trust and institutional preparedness are essential to harnessing AI's potential, making resilience the key differentiator between organizations that thrive through change and those that risk falling behind. "Aon's Resilience Quotient equips leaders to navigate rapid AI change with confidence," said Lisa Stevens, chief administrative officer at Aon. "These insights help create the conditions for early‑career employees to build the skills and confidence they need — so instead of losing a generation of talent, we cultivate one that is more capable and resilient than ever."
"Aon's Resilience Quotient equips leaders to navigate rapid AI change with confidence," said Lisa Stevens, chief administrative officer at Aon. "These insights help create the conditions for early‑career employees to build the skills and confidence they need — so instead of losing a generation of talent, we cultivate one that is more capable and resilient than ever."
- Rethinking Humanitarian Finance: A New Approach to Forced Migration
Over 120 million people are currently displaced by conflict, climate and systemic crises, reshaping societies and economies worldwide. Aon's Resilience Quotient highlights Venezuela and Colombia to illustrate the tradeoffs between investing resources at the source of migration — supporting those facing institutional erosion, food insecurity and economic collapse — or directing investment to more stable countries like Colombia that are absorbing people fleeing unlivable conditions. "Forced displacement results from extreme weather and man-made disasters like conflict and economic failure," said Bridget Gainer, chief public affairs officer at Aon. "If we could leverage the forecasting and financial capability of insurance to better predict and more quickly mitigate the impact of this volatility, we could help create conditions that allow populations to remain and rebuild in their home countries."
"Forced displacement results from extreme weather and man-made disasters like conflict and economic failure," said Bridget Gainer, chief public affairs officer at Aon. "If we could leverage the forecasting and financial capability of insurance to better predict and more quickly mitigate the impact of this volatility, we could help create conditions that allow populations to remain and rebuild in their home countries."
"Resilience is not a single blueprint, it's the way systems mitigate, adapt and transform under pressure. Aon's Resilience Quotient functions as a pressure gauge, surfacing the trade‑offs and early signals that help leaders strengthen resilience where it matters most," said Joe Daly, managing partner at Gallup. "We're proud to collaborate with Aon to combine Gallup's global sentiment analytics with Aon's Risk Capital and Human Capital data, turning confidence into actionable insight."
New insights from Aon's Resilience Quotient suggest that going forward, resilience priorities will shift from static risk management to dynamic, localized strategies. As disruptions become more complex and frequent, organizations will need to tailor resilience investments to specific geographies, sectors and even sub-regional contexts. Aon's Resilience Quotient is supported with a real-time analytics and AI-enabled insights platform, built by Quantum Rise, providing deeper visibility into evolving risk and resilience signals as conditions change.
Aon and Gallup will join global decision-makers at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting to advance these critical discussions on restoring confidence and unlocking sustainable growth.
Learn more about Aon's Resilience Quotient and explore the case studies here.
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.
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Media Contact
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** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Aon's Resilience Quotient Cuts Through Uncertainty and Volatility to Help Businesses Move from Risk to Resilience and Growth
