Many Taiwanese food safety companies have failed, but President Information Corp. (PIC), a subsidiary of retail giant Uni-President Group, has thrived since its founding in 1997. The company uses AI and the group's vast supply chain data to provide sophisticated food safety monitoring and analysis, as well as early warnings.
At a recent media event, Tony Hsieh, the president of PIC, highlighted the company's Lumine FSS platform, which focuses on food safety supply chains. This AI-driven service monitors global trends and consumer sentiment while also supporting food traceability and regulatory compliance, ultimately helping brands proactively reduce risks.
According to Hsieh, PIC's nearly 30 years in food safety management have evolved through three stages. Initially, they focused on manufacturing and raw materials (1.0), then expanded to supplier inspections (2.0), and now audit restaurant chains and retail stores (3.0).
Hsieh emphasized that a domestic-only focus has led to the failure of nearly all food safety companies in Taiwan, leaving PIC as the sole survivor. He credited PIC's resilience to its access to Uni-President's resources and its ability to integrate with domestic and international certifications like GMP and ISO.
Advanced solutions beyond AI startups
When talking about PIC's advantages over AI startups, Hsieh highlighted that PIC provides more comprehensive solutions. Unlike startups that typically specialize in a single AI service, PIC's Lumine AI series leverages models from multiple providers, such as Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic.
Moreover, PIC's most significant advantage is its ability to validate its AI solutions in real-world scenarios. While startups struggle with accuracy due to a lack of testing, PIC can test its solutions across Uni-President's over 7,000 retail locations, thus significantly enhancing accuracy.
Strategic partnerships for enhanced capabilities
Google Cloud recently highlighted its partnership with PIC, showcasing the AI Food Safety Reporting System built on Vertex AI and Gemini. This system automates data collection, integration, and analysis and generates real-time reports, enabling food safety teams to prioritize strategic risk management.
Ching-Yuan Cheng, Uni-President's Internet+ Initiative Convener, emphasized the company's focus on food safety at the procurement stage, aiming to build a transparent and trustworthy supply chain. Uni-President also encourages suppliers to adopt this system, enhancing consumer protection.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
