GS1 Launches Retail Grocery Initiative

In an effort to address industry challenges with broad adoption of GS1 supply chain standards, GS1 US has launched a new Retail Grocery Initiative, set in motion at the organization's annual GS1 Connect conference.

Designed to support industry collaboration and address supply chain and regulatory challenges, the Retail Grocery Initiative aims to address such issues as alignment on product information for business and consumer use, and standardized usage of images and adherence to regulations from the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), among others.

“We’ve already seen an early measure of the Retail Grocery Initiative’s success in the droves of industry stakeholders—more than 150—that turned out for our kick-off meeting at GS1 Connect last week," Angela Fernandez, VP of retail grocery and foodservice, GS1 US, told Progressive Grocer.

"Numerous representatives from grocery, foodservice, consumer package goods companies, fresh food suppliers, technology providers and industry associations that support retail grocery communities voiced their opinions on the many business issues that can be addressed through use of supply chain standards," she added. "This is a perfect example of how industry collaboration can drive future business success. We look forward to continued discussions with industry to formalize goals and objectives of the Initiative.”

A recent study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) reveals that business-to-business collaboration represents an untapped industry value, worth up to $21 billion. GS1's new initiative aims to better address key issues and drive supply chain efficiencies to create a more unified approach industry-wide.