HIGHLAND PARK, IL - Danaco Solutions, a leading supply chain consultancy serving top quick-service and foodservice brands, has joined the International Fresh Produce Association's (IFPA) "Supply Chain of the Future" initiative as a sponsor of the Shelf-Life Prediction & Dynamic Incentives steering committee.

With clients including Subway, Panera Bread, McDonald’s, and Applebee's, Danaco Solutions brings a sharp focus on data, food safety, and quality systems. Their partnership with IFPA underscores the need for cross-sector collaboration to solve the industry’s most pressing supply chain inefficiencies. Danaco’s deep understanding of high-volume perishable logistics makes it an ideal contributor to a working group focused on designing solutions that scale across categories and geographies.

"Our clients are dealing with real-world challenges around shelf life, waste, predictability, and the lack of system interoperability," said Jim Schallman, Founder & CEO of Danaco Solutions, in a recent press release. "This initiative offers something we rarely see: a forum where retailers, suppliers, and technology providers work together to build pre-competitive infrastructure. We’re honored to bring our perspective and invest in this broader industry transformation."

Through its role in the steering committee, Danaco will help define practical standards and tools that allow for better shelf-life forecasting, dynamic routing, and incentive alignment across the value chain. The company will also explore opportunities to test pilot solutions in live supply chains.

Steve Alaerts, Chair of the IFPA Supply Chain Council, emphasizes the collaborative nature of the program: "Data doesn't move food. Collaboration does." This philosophy underscores the initiative's approach to breaking down data silos and fostering industry-wide cooperation.

"Jim and his team bring end-to-end insight from one of the toughest sectors in fresh food," said Drew Zabrocki, CEO of Totem and Innovation Lead for the initiative. "Their involvement ensures that what we build doesn’t just live in theory – it works in practice."

The Shelf-Life Prediction & Dynamic Incentives steering committee is one of four core components of the Supply Chain of the Future initiative, which also includes important work on Harmonized Standards and Smart Data Escrow. These pillars aim to solve fragmentation, reduce waste, and enable data-driven decision-making across the fresh produce system.

There are several ways to get involved in the Supply Chain of the Future, including joining one of the working groups, signing on as a sponsor, or participating in the program pilot series. These are all detailed on the Supply Chain of the Future website.

Industry members may also join the Supply Chain of the Future Symposium on June 9, 2025 from 11am – 4pm EST. This event, held in conjunction with The Washington Conference hosted by IFPA, is free and open to in-person and virtual participants. The event will be a fast-paced opportunity to engage and network with other industry visionaries, see the latest in innovative technologies, and more.

Following the symposium, the initiative will expand pilot programs through targeted industry partnerships and technical enhancements, with a global showcase planned during the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in October 2025.