Product quality and product safety

Quality along the value chain

We aim to ensure quality along the entire value chain, from raw material to the consumer, by:

• Ensuring customers’ and consumers’ expectations are met with consistent premium quality products and services
• Focusing on food safety, product quality, and execution along the whole value chain
• Fostering a quality culture across all disciplines and levels of our company
• Directing our suppliers and service partners to act according to our principles

Setting high standards

Our global network of internal experts identifies new scientific findings, regulations, consumer requirements and trends which affect our products and production. Several expert groups meet regularly to discuss developments.

We review our ingredients, food contact materials, and processes based on new findings, adjusting recipes where necessary and working with our suppliers to mitigate potential risks. In addition, we have a monitoring program in place to detect the possible presence of pesticides and other contaminants in raw materials, and adapt in line with new findings. Our production facilities have certified management systems for food safety in place (FSSC 22000; excluding Russel Stover) and follow our own strict requirements defined in our internal Lindt & Sprüngli Quality Guidelines. These meet or exceed legal regulations and standards. We also have guidelines in place across the supply chain to ensure the high quality of our products through to the final consumer. During the year, we worked with our subsidiaries to assess increasingly challenging regulations in order to make any necessary adjustments to our standards.

Maintaining quality and safety globally

For quality assurance purposes, our production sites undergo unannounced and comprehensive inspections, conducted either by internal experts or by recognized independent third parties. Equally important are our regular raw and packaging materials supplier audits to make certain that final products meet Lindt & Sprüngli quality standards.

As in previous years, we continued to improve our ability to detect potential incidents of non-compliance and to work with our subsidiaries to adhere to internal and external performance standards and requirements. If an incident happens, we take immediate action and collaborate with authorities, investigate the root cause, and inform customers and consumers. In 2023, two voluntary recalls were issued. These were related to allergen labeling information and were not based on reports of allergic reactions.