University of Sunderland advises on Chinese dairy giant's global expansion plans

One of China’s biggest dairy producers has sought the advice of a Sunderland academic whose research on food safety is receiving worldwide recognition.

The University of Sunderland’s Dr Derek Watson has been investigating how international food industry manufacturers can develop a positive food safety culture by adopting his industry-based model totrain enlighten; which puts business practices under the microscope and lays the foundations to run more effectively and efficiently.

The billion-dollar Mengniu Dairy Group, looking to export its products to new global markets, invited Dr Derek Watson to one of its sites in Inner Mongolia to see its technology and facilities in action as well as make recommendations.

Dr Watson, a senior lecturer in the University’s Institute of Business, Law and Tourism spent a week with the company identifying any areas for improvement and how they can embed the British Retail Consortium Food Standards into their own practices.

A spokesperson for Mengniu Dairy Group, which manufactures milk, yogurt and other dairy products in mainland China, commented: “Dr Watson provided an excellent insight concerning how the totrain enlighten model on food safety culture and the potential adoption of the British Retail Consortiums Global Standards could enhance our operations and our potential to export.

“Whilst interviewing staff he was able to identify core themes for further investigation and as such we have asked Dr Watson to submit a proposal to deliver a two-week food safety management development programme for our senior management in the UK at the Sunderland campus.”

Dr Watson explained: “I was honoured to be invited by Mengniu Dairy Group, the size and scale of their operations is incredible. It’s also a huge coup for the university that multi-national companies see the value in our research at Sunderland.”

The enlighten model’s principle aim is to encourage food manufacturing organisations to complete a Food Safety Culture Questionnaire which assesses the level of compliance, best practice and in particular manufacturers’ behavioural short-falls within their organisations.

Mr PengShou Zhong, vice president art education secretary of the Party at the University of Inner Mongolia, added: “Dr Watson’s keynote speech on Innovation was both highly informative and engaging to an audience of 300 delegates.

“Dr Watson was able to share his global research and commercial impacts that added a refreshing and unique approach our international Keynote invitations.

“We certainly hope that we can foster a closer relationship with the University of Sunderland and we look forward to follow up discussions with our international departments.”