In our IFS Faces Blog, we usually introduce one outstanding colleague. This time, we are even more excited to present not just one but two exceptional individuals who have recently joined the IFS Team: Mario Schuster and Holly Hatam, who have started with us as Director and Deputy Director of Market Development. This blog explores their backgrounds...
I believe that the IFS ESG Check supports companies on their way to better sustainability. It will also have a positive effect on food safety, as the two topics are linked. Helga Barrios, IFS Head of Sustainability The IFS is happy that Helga Barrios has taken on the responsibility for the important and future-oriented topic of sustainability in co...
I really enjoy working in the modern work environment of IFS. The purpose driven team as well as the direct involvement of safety and quality stakeholders from the entire supply chain is amazing. Felix Schuhmann, IFS Academy Technical ManagerIFS is happy to have Felix Schuhman as an employee. He started with an internship in June 2020 and became on...
To me, IFS means setting high-quality standards and programs, and I look forward to contributing to them in the future. Ezgi Dedebas Ugur, IFS Representative TürkiyeWe are happy to share that we have a new IFS Face in Türkiye. In this blog post, Ezgi Dedebas Ugur introduces herself. Introducing the new IFS Face in Türkiye My name is Ezgi Dedebas Ug...
Working with and learning from the IFS Partners within our global network and the IFS Colleagues inspires me every day. Daniela Poblete, IFS LATAM Director The IFS Face behind IFS PACsecure and IFS LATAM My name is Daniela Poblete; I am a Chilean citizen based in Santiago. I am a Food Industry Engineer, Civil Industrial Engineer with a B.S. in Engi...
It's rewarding to see how businesses following the IFS Pathway progress. João Ricardo Stein, IFS Senior Technical Manager The Face behind IFS Global Markets and IFS Pathway My name is João Ricardo Stein; I am a Brazilian citizen based in São Paulo. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomic Engineering, I specialised in Q...
IFS stands for resilient and reliable high-level certification and supportive digital services at the cutting edge of technology to create added value for our stakeholders. Stephan Tromp, IFS Managing Director The Face behind IFS My name is Stephan Tromp, and I am both managing director at IFS and deputy secretary-general of the German Retail Feder...
By learning from each other in the IFS Team, we continuously improve our performance. Miroslav Šuška, Representative Czech RepublicIn this part of the IFS Faces series, Miroslav Šuška, the face behind the IFS Food Book and the IFS Face in the Czech Republic, introduces himself: The IFS Face in Czech Republic My name is Miroslav Šuška. I am th...
I am looking forward to contributing to the developments at IFS and strengthening its position in the CEE markets. Laszlo Gyorfi, Senior Quality Assurance Manager and IFS Representative CEE IFS is happy to welcome Laszlo Gyorfi on the team. He is our IFS Representative for the Central and Eastern European countries and works as Senior Quality Assur...
At IFS, I have the unique chance to combine my deep passion for food and my IT knowledge to benefit the IFS Stakeholders! Luisa Knupper, IFS Senior IT Project Manager IFS is happy that Luisa Knupper has recently joined our team as Senior Project Manager. Luisa is the new IFS Face for IT. She is a German citizen based in Berlin. In this blog post, L...
More and more the impact of the war in Ukraine on food supply chains is noticeable. The production and distribution of food and raw materials are severely disturbed. This extraordinary situation influences the supplier and raw materials management as well as customer specifications and recipe management in terms of allergen, GMO and labelling. In r...
We are celebrating a lustrum this month! Five years ago, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) accepted IFS for Ketenborging.nl. It marked the start of a constructive and productive public-private cooperation for safer and more trust in food products. In this blog, Hans van der A of the NVWA and IFS's Stephan Tromp look ...
IFS develops globally recognised product quality and safety standards and development programs with the expertise of retailers, manufacturers, certification bodies and other experts. With our help, companies increase the trustworthiness of their products and brands through a practised product and food safety culture.
The IFS Integrity Program ensures that our standards are properly implemented.
This is guaranteed by:
In case of complaints, it is possible to reach IFS IP via the complaint-form or
With the accreditation of the certification bodies working with us and the IFS Standards, we ensure that our work is based on uniform international norms and thus on objectively verifiable quality standards. For us, accreditation means security and trust in our products.
Making processes, structures, and business models more sustainable is a constant challenge for many companies. To help especially small and medium-sized companies integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, IFS offers the ESG Compliance Check. With this tool, we support you on your way to a greener and more socially responsible future.
Ensure product integrity with IFS. We help you better understand and control risks relating to product integrity and food fraud. With our IFS PIA Assessment, you show your customer that you deliver products to specifications and manage your integrity risks properly.
We are pleased to announce that Chryssa Dimitriadis has been appointed Deputy to Managing Director Stephan Tromp, marking a significant step in strengthening our international impact and continued commitment to trust throughout supply chains.
With bicultural French and Greek roots and based in our French office, Chryssa Dimitriadis brings extensive international experience and a strong connection to key stakeholders, including the French retail federation FCD and French retailers. Chryssa started her career at a certification body, developing solid expertise in food safety authority notifications and retailers’ laboratory analyses.
Since joining IFS 10 years ago, Chryssa has held several key positions, starting in auditor management and later taking responsibility for the IFS Food Standard. In 2022, she was appointed Director of Standard Management, where she has played a vital role in further developing the IFS Standards and Programmes to meet the needs of our stakeholders. Chryssa remains in this role, where she has demonstrated outstanding leadership in guiding international, cross-functional teams and driving continuous improvement.
Chryssa also continues to lead the International Technical Committee, bringing together key stakeholders from major retailers, industry sectors, and certification bodies. Additionally, she serves as a technical representative in global forums, including the European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA), the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, and the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), where Chryssa actively participates in the Benchmarking and Harmonisation Working Group.
On the occasion of this appointment, Chryssa stated: “I’m truly honoured to take on the role of Deputy and to support Stephan Tromp in strengthening our global impact. My focus will be on driving alignment among international stakeholders, reinforcing our standards, and ensuring we continue to deliver practical, credible solutions across the entire supply chain. I look forward to working closely with our teams and partners to further advance product safety, quality, and integrity worldwide.”
Stephan Tromp added: “Chryssa brings a unique combination of technical expertise, international experience, and strong leadership. Over recent years, she has played a key role in shaping our standards and strengthening collaboration across our global network. I am confident that in this new role, she will further enhance our impact and continue to drive excellence throughout our organisation.”
We warmly congratulate Chryssa Dimitriadis on this new role and look forward to the continued positive impact of her leadership.
We are pleased to announce that Jean-Charles Gander has been appointed Director Quality Assurance (QA) and Integrity Program (IP).
In his new role, Jean-Charles Gander will strengthen our commitment to excellence, transparency, and operational integrity. He will work with internal teams, business partners, and stakeholders to further develop our QA and IP, ensuring continued trust and reliability in our operations.
Jean-Charles Gander has extensive experience in quality management, risk mitigation, and strategic transformation. Throughout his career, he has held several leadership roles across the food and testing services sectors, building a strong record in regulatory compliance, fostering innovation, and leading international projects. He offers an industry and retail perspective and has a thorough understanding of auditors' roles and qualifications.
Before joining IFS, he served as Chief Quality Officer at Migros Group, where he was responsible for advancing quality strategies across one of Switzerland’s largest international retail and industry groups. In addition, Jean-Charles Gander serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Swiss Association for Quality and has previously contributed to our organisation as a member of the IFS Board and the Exam Working Group.
“We are delighted to welcome Jean-Charles Gander to this vital position”, said Stephan Tromp, Managing Director of IFS. “His expertise and strategic insight will significantly shape the future direction of our organisation and strengthen our QA and IP.”
Commenting on his appointment, Jean-Charles Gander stated: “I would like to transform quality assurance challenges into strategic opportunities, leveraging my expertise to strengthen IFS’s market position and realign the department with the company’s objectives. I am eager to collaborate with a talented team of professionals dedicated to upholding the company’s core values of quality, integrity, and trust.”
Ensuring basic food safety requirements are met, building trust between producers and retailers, and supporting access to retail shelves.
IFS is pleased to introduce IFS Local, a new annual standalone check designed to evaluate food safety and compliance at small-scale local producers.
Businesses, including micro-enterprises, family-owned companies, and artisanal producers, play a crucial role in the food industry. However, limited resources and simple processes can make meeting food safety requirements challenging.
“IFS Local is a strategic initiative designed to empower small-scale food producers. It offers them a structured, hands-on framework for ensuring basic good hygiene and manufacturing practices, as well as product compliance. By adopting IFS Local, producers can build greater trust with their customers and enhance their chances of securing shelf space in retail stores,” said Stephan Tromp, Managing Director of IFS.
IFS Local provides clear guidance and practical support for establishing essential foundations for safe food production, processing, and packing, while minimising administrative effort. Developed in collaboration with retailers, certification bodies, and industry experts, it ensures practical applicability and alignment with market expectations.
The IFS Local checklist is clearly structured and contains both core requirements and additional optional requirements as needed. Trained assessors verify compliance with these requirements and can provide advice on process optimisation. Assessed businesses receive a report, an action plan, and a letter of confirmation. They can make these documents easily available to their customers through the IFS Database.
IFS Local supports small-scale food producers by making it easier to identify and reduce food safety risks, comply with legal and product requirements, and implement practical, effective measures in day-to-day operations. The check helps build trust with customers and other stakeholders and can be a ticket to placing products in retail stores. This way, supply chains are strengthened, and producers, retailers and customers can buy the locally produced food products with confidence.
To support implementation, IFS provides the following tools and resources:
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