In the Foresight podcast's debut, Dom Burch hosts Shaun Kokott, an SCI retail and manufacturing expert, shedding light on the evolving landscape of compliance, certification, and supply chains.
Shaun's journey from South Africa to the UK showcases his extensive background in food safety, quality, regulatory, and compliance across various sectors including FMCG, food production, and certification.
A central theme Shaun discusses is the dramatic shift in food fraud over the past two decades. He highlights the sophistication of fraud, where criminals have migrated from traditional illicit activities to the food sector, producing substandard goods or mislabeling products to exploit market value. An example given is the substitution of sugar syrup for honey.
This shift underscores the need for stringent industry vigilance and technological advancements to combat fraud and improve product traceability.
Shaun emphasises the transformative role of technology in the food industry, particularly in enhancing traceability and auditing processes. He shares an example of a fish site in Grimsby that exemplified unprecedented traceability efficiency, underscoring the potential of technology to streamline operations and ensure food safety.
The conversation also touches on the concept of "earned trust," advocating for a shift from traditional, time-bound audits to continuous, transparent processes that facilitate trust and compliance throughout the supply chain.
Shaun elaborates on SCI's focus on sustainability and CSR, particularly in helping retailers in Asia develop low carbon options for their products. He mentions engaging directly with farms to measure and improve carbon footprints, reflecting SCI's proactive stance in addressing global sustainability challenges.
Shaun's insights into the future of the food industry focus on combating food fraud and ensuring the health and safety of consumers through advancements in technology and stricter supply chain control. He stresses the importance of authentic, nourishing food and the role of AI in enhancing supply chain traceability and reducing fraud.
This episode not only showcases Shaun's expertise and SCI's innovative projects but also reflects on the broader implications for the food industry's future, emphasising the necessity of embracing technology and innovation to address contemporary challenges.

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