On the morning of August 11, 2023, the 8th Special Food Managers’ GFUN Talk was successfully held in Harbin. With the theme “Striving to be a warm professional manager in the special food industry, embracing a consumer-oriented perspective”, the event brought together experts from various industries to discuss pressing topics. Interactive discussions among participants addressed career challenges encountered by managers. The event featured distinguished speakers, including Sun Shuguang, a Master’s supervisor at the Law School of the People’s Public Security University of China, Liu Shiji, a partner at Lanjing Private Domain, and Xiaoqijiang, a self-media blogger specializing in Internet technology and products. Wang Gang, a member of the Working Committee of Regulations and Standards, Yang Fei from the Infant Formula Sub-committee, Mi Shaozhen from the Special Committee on Raw Materials and Excipients, and Liu Wei from the Special Committee on New Consumption led discussions on key topics. Nearly 100 attendees participated in person, while hundreds more joined online via live broadcast. The meeting was hosted by Zhang Zhongpeng, Secretary General of the CNHFA, and attended by Li Liangqiu, Executive Vice President, representing the CNHFA.
In her opening speech, Li Liangqiu, Executive Vice President of the CNHFA, extended a warm welcome and gratitude to all guests and enterprise representatives. Over seven consecutive years, GFUN Talk, a self-established brand of the CNHFA for professional managers in the industry, has fostered effective communication and promoted diversified skill development in line with current trends. Topics have evolved from government relations and crisis management to sharing professional experiences and enhancing interdisciplinary skills. With the strong support of Friesland (Shanghai) Co., the Executive Vice President Enterprise of the CNHFA, more than 30 career supervisors have been invited over the years. The CNHFA aims to provide a communication platform that effectively serves its members, helping them improve and become warm managers in the industry.
Among the speakers, Sun Shuguang discussed cases involving illegal additives in health food. He covered topics including the current situation of illegal additive use, governance determination logic, governance basis, nature determination of new additives, and practical aspects of detecting and handling new additive cases. Sun’s detailed case examples shed light on the dangers of illegal additives, types, and the underlying logic of offenses involving health food products. This discussion aimed to enhance legal compliance and reduce errors.
Liu Shiji, a partner at Lanjing Private Domain, delved into “Realizing Full Domain Marketing through Public-Private Collaboration”. He explained the differences between public and private domains, emphasizing the benefits of linking the two. Liu outlined three strategies for brand private domain operation and four key modules for brand private domain management. He also highlighted the growing importance of Key Opinion Consumers (KOC) in the evolving media landscape.
Xiaoqijiang explored the impact of ChatGPT on the special food industry. She discussed ChatGPT’s advantages, including auto-response, personalized recommendations, and cost savings. Xiaoqijiang shared case studies illustrating how ChatGPT can be used to promote special food products and interact with users through various media formats. She predicted that ChatGPT would continue to evolve with smarter recommendations, more diverse usage scenarios, and innovative features.
The 2023 event introduced interactive sessions. Delegates, led by four group leaders, discussed topics such as “Being a Warm Special Food Manager From a Consumer-oriented Perspective”, “Enhancing Cooperation with the Government to Meet Consumer Needs in the New Context and Establish Appropriate Regulatory Policies”, “Fostering Consumer-focused Professional Manager Thinking and Professionalism”, “Navigating the Gap between Market-oriented Enterprise Behavior and Regulatory Requirements”, and “Utilizing New Tools to Raise Consumer Awareness of the Role of Nutrition and Health Food in Achieving Relevant Goals”.
Wang Gang, from the CNHFA Regulations and Standards Working Committee, shared insights on “Improving Cooperation with the Government to Meet Consumer Needs in the New Context and Establish Appropriate Regulatory Policies”. He emphasized ten areas where enterprises can better collaborate with the government, including platform development, industry research, international exchanges, and social responsibility.
Yang Fei, from the CNHFA Infant Formula Sub-committee, discussed “Enhancing Professional Managers’ Ideological Quality through a Consumer-Centric Approach”. He emphasized the importance of instilling a consumer-oriented mindset among managers. This involves empathizing with consumers, using their needs as a guide, and improving across various aspects of professional management, including marketing, science, and regulations, using modern methods. Yang encouraged managers to broaden their horizons, break professional stereotypes, and proactively meet consumers’ core demands. Ultimately, he urged companies to lead industry development, promote vitality, and continually strive for improvement.
Mi Shaozhen, from the CNHFA’s Raw Materials and Excipients Committee, addressed the topic of “Aligning Market and Consumer Behavior with Regulatory Requirements”. She emphasized the importance of adopting strategies such as practical experimentation, deeper industry engagement, innovative thinking, advocacy for industry needs, and proactive dialogue with regulatory authorities based on a “regulatory risk assessment”.
Liu Wei, a member of the CNHFA New Consumption Committee, discussed “Using Innovative Approaches to Raise Consumer Awareness of the Role of Nutritious and Healthy Food in Health and Nutritional Goals”. He recommended innovative tools such as short videos, IP images, and ChatGPT to achieve benefits while maintaining scientific, legal, attractive and effective communication.
The half-day event concluded after these engaging discussions. Organized by the CNHFA, this event serves as a platform for industry professional managers to exchange ideas, address common challenges, and enhance their skills. We look forward to welcoming all participants again next year!
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