To address food quality and safety concerns in the supply chain, TOPS has initiated an Agri-Supply Chain project. This project aims to improve the performance of TOPS' suppliers in term of safety and quality in farming and distribution of product. A food safety system has been set up, using the Department of Agriculture as the certification body. Currently, 42 of TOPS suppliers who participated in the Hygienic Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Production Pilot Project were certified by the Thai Department of Agriculture to meet the international standards for both for both local consumption and export. The example of TOPS's certified suppliers are Doctor Co,.Ltd. , KCK Hydro Farm Co., Ltd., Future Farm Co., Ltd., JPP Co., Ltd., KC Kampangsan Co., Ltd. Including farmers from different part of the country such as Nakorn Pathom, Pathumthani, Suphanburi and Chiengmai etc. CRC Ahold Company Limited, operator of TOPS, TOPS MarketPlace and City Market by TOPS reaffirms its freshness and quality standards by announcing that it has gained approval for the use of the Hygienic Fresh Fruit and Vegetable logo on vegetable products at TOPS, TOPS MarketPlace and City Market. The Hygienic Fresh Fruit and Vegetable logo indicates that the product has passed a food safety inspection by the Department of Agriculture concerning the proper use of pesticides. TOPS is considered to be the first and only Thai retailer to achieve this approval.

Presently, many Thai farmers require further education regarding the effects of pesticide use on products and the environment. In response to this concern, the Hygienic Fresh and Vegetable Production Pilot Project was established by the Department of Agriculture in order to support inexperienced farmers in producing fruits and vegetables that are safer and healthier for the customer and the environment.

"Nowadays the consumers are more health conscious and concern about the food safety. For this reason, TOPS Supermarket has constantly dedicated to develop quality, freshness, and safety of all products available
at TOPS since 1997.
Our participation in the Hygienic Fresh Fruit
and Vegetable Production Pilot Project in
cooperation with the Thai Department of Agriculture
can assure our customers that they will receive the highest possible levels of quality and safety when they purchase fresh products at TOPS," said Chiranun Poopat, Vice President B&M, Marketing, TOPS Supermarket.

TOPS Fresh Distribution Center (FDC) has been awarded the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) by the Thai Industrial Standards Institute, (TISI) for following good hygienic practices for a food plant. Furthermore, TOPS FDC has also received a Quality Certification under the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) for maintaining the principles and procedures of safe handling, storage and distribution of foods and food products. Along with the Hygienic Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Project, TOPS has implemented toxin testing systems to verify the safety of fresh product at TOPS FDC before distribution to the stores.