FoodLogiQ Connect, the software as a service (SaaS) traceability platform, will use 1WorldSync’s tools that provide data validity, quality and intelligence.
Customers will also be able to connect with trading partners to make sure product information is flowing through the supply chain.
It is an online supplier community used by companies to manage quality, safety, compliance and traceability across the supply chain.
FoodLogiQ said the foodservice industry is under pressure for complete and accurate product information to ensure safety and growing use of web-based platforms in the supply chain.
Supply chain connection
1WorldSync is a product information network, helping more than 20,000 global brands and their trading partners in 60 countries, share content with customers and consumers.
The Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) connects suppliers and retailers, operators, providers, distributors, and other recipients to the GS1 Global Registry via selected data pools.
GS1 is the governing body that owns and operates the use of this system of standards (which used to be known as the UPC or Universal Product Code).
Katy Jones, VP of marketing at FoodLogiQ, said it had worked with 1WorldSync through GS1 but it was the first official partnership.
“1WorldSync brings the ability to FoodLogiQ to synchronize data from the GDSN so a retailer can pull data from GDSN opposed to entering it manually, this offers significant efficiency for customers and provides better information to trace products.
“GDSN is a big data pool of product information from the ounces of a food item to the nutritional information of a food item.
“Our customers in the restaurant space want final mile traceability and it is a business opportunity using GDSN to bring data together and provide information to end consumers.”
Jones added it expects integration to be complete within six to eight months.
Keeping up with trends
Dean Wiltse, CEO of FoodLogiQ, said trends are changing sometimes faster than what the supply chain can keep up with.
“From the customer demand for transparency to the US Food and Drug Administration’s mandate for better processes, traceability is no longer just a nice-to-have asset.
“Without this sort of insight, keeping up with the evolving industry will be highly problematic, if not impossible.”
The foodservice industry has been focused on how to manufacture, distribute and sell items.
However, there has been a shift to provide transparency and visibility driving foodservice manufacturers, brokers, distributors and operators to address new requirements from customers, government regulations for menu labeling and other nutritional standards.
SmartLabel is a consumer transparency initiative, led by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), to provide consumers with information beyond standard product label attributes like ingredient origins and composition when making purchasing decisions.
Nick Manzo, global omni-channel lead at 1WorldSync, said the fresh food industry had struggled in figuring out how to engage in true data synchronization with retail and foodservice partners.
“1WorldSync’s product information and fresh industry solutions coupled with FoodLogiQ’s track/traceability and supply chain management capabilities allows the fresh industry an opportunity to be fully engaged in global product information sharing.”