A breakthrough producing common standards for data in the foodservice sector has been achieved by the Optimum Foodservice Supply Chain Initiative (OFSCI).
OFSCI has been working with GS1, a non-profit-making organisation, which has developed global language for businesses.
Together they have developed standards and a language covering allergens, the types of diet a product is suitable for, the serving size, preparation and other relevant data.
Steve Ramage, e commerce manager for King UK and chairman of OFSCI's commercial group, explained: "A lot of the existing data standards have been driven by the retailers and there have not been standards for data needed by the foodservice sector. This has meant each solution provider has implemented their own standards."
OFSCI was set up by companies covering all sectors of the foodservice market - manufacturers, distributors, operators, and service providers.
Ramage said the group was looking at other areas, such as packaging waste requirements and traceability, where the foodservice sector might have special data requirements.
Later this year the new standards will be incorporated into the Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN). Ramage said common standards would produce cost savings for all companies, large and small.
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- 27 November, 2008
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