LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - GS1 US is uniting suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, solution providers and industry associations under a new Retail Grocery Initiative designed to facilitate supply chain collaboration and the implementation of GS1 Standards to uniquely identify products around the globe. AndNowUKnow recently talked to Angela Fernandez, Vice President of Retail Grocery and Foodservice, on how the industry is evolving and reacting to new changes.

“I always describe GS1 Standards as something we all use every day and don't even know it - the barcode is scanned five billion times a day around the globe,” shared Fernandez. “GS1 offices are in 110 countries, working every day to apply the global standards to the local environments they serve. Twenty-five industries use the global supply chain standards and the retail grocery was the first to pioneer the barcode and the efficiencies of GS1 Standards. Today, the GS1 US Retail Grocery Initiative is composed of retailers, suppliers and other industry stakeholders who have joined together to identify emerging industry challenges and further drive supply chain efficiencies. Members have had the opportunity to provide their thought, leadership and expertise to shape the future of the industry, and we’re now starting to address a few critical industry issues.”

What issues are at the forefront of the Initiative’s agenda?

• Expanded Product Information: GS1 US recognizes that consumers are demanding more information than ever about food specifications such as whether the item is organic or GMO-free and is helping the industry better share this information.
• Supply Chain Visibility: Where did the product come from? Where is it going? Was this product created in a sustainable process? Retailers and their trading partners want answers to these questions in order to both streamline operations and answer the questions of consumers who are increasingly interested in the place of origin for their favorite products.
• Operational Efficiency: How to leverage the information in barcodes to lower the total delivery costs of their goods and increase efficiency at all levels of the supply chain.

GS1 US is currently working closely with executives to further build the Retail Grocery Initiative and drive an efficient, holistic industry approach to these challenges. GS1 US will begin to work on these issues with the industry in October.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more information on GS1 and the global retail industry.

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