Foundation FSSC welcomed its global network of Certification Bodies, Accreditation Bodies, members of the independent Board of Stakeholders, industry leaders, and supply chain experts to Amsterdam for the annual FSSC Insights Event on 10-11 June 2026.
The two days brought together experts from across the consumer goods industry to connect, exchange knowledge, and explore the challenges and opportunities shaping food safety and sustainability management today. The program combined keynote presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, united by a shared commitment to trust and impact.
This year’s theme, “The Heartbeat of Continual Improvement,” set out the tone for an agenda that examined how certification schemes, digital innovation, and strong stakeholder collaboration continue to drive meaningful progress across global supply chains.
Key Highlights:
Leon Mol, Director Group Product Safety at Ahold Delhaize, one of the world’s largest retail groups, opened the event with a keynote on managing food safety risks from a retailer’s perspective. He emphasized that food safety is non-negotiable and must always be treated as a given, noting that food safety issues and recalls are increasing globally over time. Leon also highlighted the growing shortage of skilled auditors, the importance of going deeper into supply chains beyond certification, and the need for greater data transparency to strengthen product safety systems for all stakeholders. His presentation underlined the critical role that certification plays in maintaining supply chain integrity at scale.
Supplier management was explored in depth through a panel discussion bringing together Ann Marie Carrillo, Global Supply Quality Director from Kerry, Bianca Kolln, Corporate Quality and Food Safety Governance Director from Mars, and Leon Mol, moderated by our CEO Aldin Hilbrands. The panel addressed the shifting approach to food safety controls, from point-in-time checks toward continual improvement, and how certification accelerates the supplier’s onboarding process by providing immediate, clear food safety requirements. The discussion also highlighted how businesses are increasingly looking for certification schemes to provide structured, shareable data that can be used in predictive models to further strengthen supply chain oversight. The session reinforced how robust supplier management frameworks are essential for achieving consistent food safety outcomes across complex, global supply chains.
Elsabe Matthee, Fahmeeda Khan, and Kelly Mulholland from FSSC presented the latest updates to the FSSC 22000 Certification Scheme, introducing Version 7 and walking attendees through its key developments. This was followed by an overview of the Scheme’s business benefits delivered by Ahmad Ansari from FSSC. Together, these sessions highlighted the practical and strategic value of FSSC 22000 certification for organizations of all sizes.
The spotlight then turned to social sustainability, with Swapnil Shinde from FSSC presenting the business benefits of FSSC 24000, covering brand recognition and promotional value. Francesco Di Sarno, Global Food and Beverage Business Development Manager from DNV, joined to share case studies illustrating that organizations are choosing FSSC 24000 not in response to external pressure, but to demonstrate their social and ethical practices. He noted that key challenges include formalizing previously informal processes and extending requirements across the supply chain.
Dr. Jerwin Tholen, EMEA Lead Sustainable Supply Chain and Human Rights from KPMG, further highlighted that organizations with strong supply chain visibility are better positioned to meet specific product and disclosure requirements, and emphasized the importance of embedding social auditing as a foundation for meaningful supplier collaboration. The session demonstrated the growing momentum behind FSSC 24000 as a framework for embedding social sustainability into business operations.
Brahim Houla, Chair of Global ACI, provided a recorded update on global accreditation developments, sharing the strategic goals and purpose of the recently merged organization. This was followed by Guido Dinjens from FSSC, who presented the latest digital solutions and addressed how FSSC processes and makes available structured data received from certified organizations, the challenges of working with data at scale, and the importance of enabling digital assurance in an era increasingly shaped by AI. The session highlighted how technology is playing an increasingly important role in making certification more accessible, efficient, and impactful.
On day two, Neil Milvain from FSSC presented insights from the Integrity Program, engaging attendees in an interactive session on the program’s key strategic components. Marc Cwikowski and Tülay Kahraman, CEO and COO from World of Auditing, explored the value of food safety audits, presenting data and insights on the importance of auditing alongside the growing challenge of auditor scarcity.
This was followed by a panel discussion on auditor scarcity, moderated by Marc Cwikowski, joined by Todd Redwood, Global Managing Director at BSI, Patricia Arteaga, Food Accreditation Manager at Bureau Veritas, and Kimberly Coffin, Technical Director at LRQA. The panel examined the causes behind the shortage of auditors in the industry and discussed potential solutions to address this pressing challenge.
Foundation FSSC would like to thank all speakers, panelists, and attendees for their invaluable contributions during the event’s numerous interactions. We will continue to use the shared input to improve our processes and develop beyond certification alongside our partners.
