Nestlé, Carrefour to track mashed potato brand with blockchain

Nestlé and Carrefour are working on a pilot that will apply blockchain technology to the Mousline instant mashed potato product, available in Carrefour stores around France.

This is the result of the companies joining the IBM Food Trust platform. Using a QR code on the product’s packaging, shoppers will be able to access information on the production supply chain, including the varieties of potato used, information on quality control, and places and dates of storage prior to reaching the store.

“This pilot is the result of a successful partnership with Carrefour and a great step forward on our blockchain journey. We are using this technology to bring more transparency to our products by providing accurate, trusted and impartial information. That will benefit the whole value chain, including retailers and consumers,” says Vineet Khanna, SVP – Global Head Supply Chain at Nestlé.

Further info here.

Albertsons

Food and drug chain Albertsons Companies has also signed up with Food Trust.

The retailer, which operates nearly 2,300 stores across the US, will pilot the platform for tracing bulk romaine lettuce from one of its distribution centres. It will then explore expanding to other food categories throughout its distribution network. It is looking to overcome the obstacles that have existed when a traceback is initiated for a product like romaine and is evaluating ways to highlight the provenance of its Own Brands portfolio.

Since it launched in October 2018, Food Trust has grown to incorporate around 80 clients, with over five million food products now using blockchain technology as part of their delivery process.

“Multiple high-profile consumer advisories from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration demonstrate the need to find more efficient ways of tracing products and identifying likely sources of contamination in a timely manner,” says Jerry Noland, VP of Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Albertsons Companies. “Consequently, retailers are exploring new technologies to improve the infrastructure that underpins the global food supply chain.”