Albertsons Companies, one of the biggest food and drug retail companies in the US, has announced that it will be joining the IBM Food Trust Network.
The company will use the Food Trust’s blockchain solution to improve transparency and make it easier for consumers to track foods at every step from the farms all the way to store shelves.
Albertsons to Improve Traceability of Food
Albertsons has joined the IBM Food Trust Network, connecting with over 80 brands on the blockchain system. The IBM Food Trust is aiming to improve food traceability with blockchain technology, from producers to suppliers and retailers, by enabling greater collaboration and transparency, which will ultimately lead to a safer food supply.
According to the press release, Albertsons, which operates 2,300 stores across the country will join the IBM Food Trust Network and utilize its blockchain technology solution. Blockchain will be used to trace large quantities of romaine lettuce from one of its distribution centers. However, the company will also consider expanding to other categories of food within its distribution network over time.
Anuj Dhanda, the Chief Information Officer at Albertsons Companies, commented on this latest development and said that blockchain could be transformational for the company as it further develops differentiation on its fresh brand. Ensuring the safety of food is an essential step forward for the company. The ability to track the movement of food items from the farm to customers baskets will be very empowering for customers, Dhanda added.
Jerry Noland, the vice president of food safety and quality assurance at the company, noted that Albertsons is joining the IBM network after several high-profile consumer advisories from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) outlined the need to find more efficient methods of tracking products and identifying spoilage.
The general manager of the IBM Food Trust, Raj Rao said that the launching of the network last year was an important milestone since it has made blockchain real for businesses. He added that by bringing more members to the Food Trust network and allowing them to share greater cross-sections of data on a secure network, brings its vision of transforming the food ecosystem with blockchain closer to reality.
IBM’s Food Trusts Network Could Change the Food Industry
IBM believes that the Food Trust Network has the potential to transform the food sector by ensuring that recalled products are removed from stores in a fast and efficient manner. The network is experiencing a growing number of participants that wish to tackle a wide range of food system problems including waste reduction, supply chain efficiency, sustainability, and freshness.
The blockchain network becomes stronger when it is composed of multiple, diverse members that carry out regular transactions. The IBM Food Trust is currently one of the largest non-crypto blockchain systems, with retail giants such as Unilever, Walmart, Nestle, and more all playing active roles to help improve the food supply chain.
