Name	Dr. Thorsten Maier	Company	Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG
Position	Head of Quality Assurance	Country	Germany
Member Type	Retailer	Advisory Board Term	2021 - 2025

Dr. Maier's Statement

For Lidl, GLOBALG.A.P. is the most important standard in the scope of fruit & vegetables/ flowers & ornamentals. We have subsidiaries in 28 European countries and have close connections to national suppliers/growers/producers and therefore the unique position of having an excellent overview of the entire European market. We plan to use this know-how and our resources to shape the strategic development of the GLOBALG.A.P. standard and to represent the interests of the other European retailers.

Professional & Educational Background

I am a state certified food chemist and have studied at the University of Hohenheim where I later obtained a PhD. In 2008 I worked as laboratory director at CVUA Karlsruhe (food control authority) before starting at the Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG. in 2009. For the past 12 years I have been acting as head of various departments within the quality assurance for food at Lidl and was appointed head of the entire quality assurance for food as well as fruit and vegetables in November of 2015. I am currently also involved in the advisory board of IFS.

Other affiliations relevant to candidacy

Member of IFS Board