Several prominent figures in foodservice commended GS1 UK’s TrueSource data pool, which allows manufacturers and suppliers to store and manage one single “true” version of their product information for industry-wide access.
Karl Goodwin, commercial director of Creed Foodservice, said: “The operational complexities facing industry have clearly increased in recent years, driven by changes in customer expectation and new regulations.”
Legislation
The European Food Information to Consumers regulation (FIC 1169) imposed stricter rules for suppliers and operators about the quantity and quality of information they provide regarding the allergen and nutritional content of their products.
Chris Binge, chief executive of Fairway Foodservice, said: “The introduction of the 1169 regulation has really focused attention on the provision of date – both in terms of how it is shared between trading partners and how it is made accessible to our customers, who increasingly expect information on allergens and nutrition to be available through any point of engagement with a brand.
“GS1 have ready-made solution in TrueSource that will enable industry to maintain compliance with 1169 and we fully support adoption of it.”
Martin Janes, head of foodservice & convenience at GS1 UK, said: “By utilising an industry-wide solution, we believe that all stakeholders will be able to operate more efficiently, saving the industry millions and ensuring compliance with the latest regulations.
“As the need for additional product information increases, businesses are investing in systems to help manage this, but they should not be tempted to create proprietary options which can create unnecessary cost and duplication for their suppliers who often work with a range of operators.”