Work In Progress
Progressive Grocer|April 2019

Don’t expect a food safety silver bullet anytime soon as the grocery industry continues to work through blockchain’s potential and limitations.

Jenny McTaggart
Work In Progress

May 15, 2019 9:03:05 AM org.apache.pdfbox.pdmodel.font.PDTrueTypeFont WARNING: Using fallback font 'LiberationSans' for 'Bodoni-Poster'

Blockchain is an emerging technology that holds exciting promise for the future of food safety. Consider these major industry headlines from the second half of 2018:

• Software giant SAP began piloting its SAP Cloud Platform Blockchain with farm-toconsumer produce suppliers, including Naturipe Farms, Johnsonville LLC and Maple Leaf Foods.

• The IBM Food Trust blockchain solution became generally available to the industry after 18 months in testing.

• Walmart announced that all of its leafy-greens suppliers must sign on to the technology in a year’s time to prevent further outbreaks (and then Walmart’s VP of food safety, Frank Yiannas, joined the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, seemingly to help boost better traceability efforts in the country).

There’s no doubt that blockchain would help improve traceability, and hopefully one day make a sizable dent in serious foodborne illness cases like the e. coli-tainted romaine lettuce outbreaks of 2018. But one blockchain and supply chain expert notes that beyond all of the hype, a lot of work needs to be done to find a viable, full-scale business solution that would work for the entire industry.

This story is from the April 2019 edition of Progressive Grocer.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 2019 edition of Progressive Grocer.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM PROGRESSIVE GROCERView All
Gurgaon's First and Most Successful Independent F&G Retailer
Progressive Grocer

Gurgaon's First and Most Successful Independent F&G Retailer

SINCE LAUNCHING ITS FIRST OUTLET IN THE YEAR 2000 IN DLF GURGAON AT A TIME WHEN MODERN TRADE FOOD AND GROCERY STORES WERE NOWHERE ON THE RETAIL HORIZONS OF THE MILLENNIUM CITY, NEEDS SUPERMARKET HAS GROWN TO ADD 26 LARGE, MEDIUM AND SMALL STORES TO ITS KITTY, CLOCKING AN ADMIRABLE RUN RATE ON VARIOUS PARAMETERS OF RETAILING EXCELLENCE ALONG THE WAY. PROGRESSIVE GROCER SPOKE TO NEEDS SUPERMARKET’S MD AJAY DHAR, AND CEO, ARUN KHATTAR, ABOUT HOW THE GROCERY CHAIN HAS BEEN ABLE TO HOLD ITS OWN AND CLOCK STEADY GROWTH IN A HYPER-COMPETITIVE MARKET DOTTED WITH BIG-BOX NATIONAL RETAILERS AND THE SECRET SAUCE BEHIND ITS SUCCESS RECIPE.

time-read
10+ mins  |
August 2021
Paras Spices is innovating with unique products to meet new trends in the spices category
Progressive Grocer

Paras Spices is innovating with unique products to meet new trends in the spices category

CATEGORY WATCH FOOD STAPLES

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2021
Brands and retailers collaborate to promote the growth of non-alcoholic beverages
Progressive Grocer

Brands and retailers collaborate to promote the growth of non-alcoholic beverages

SUPER-HERB INFUSED BEVERAGES THAT BRING THE POWER-PACKED GOODNESS OF SUPERFRUITS ARE TAKING THE MARKET BY STORM. THESE NONALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES CLAIM TO CONTAIN ZERO CALORIES, ZERO SUGAR, ZERO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS, AND ZERO PRESERVATIVES AND ARE DESIGNED FOR TODAY’S MILLENNIAL-GEN WHO ARE SEEKING A HEALTHY DRINK WITH A TASTY TWIST.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2021
Just Outside the Box
Progressive Grocer

Just Outside the Box

THE HUMBLE PARKING LOT HAS BECOME A DIFFERENT KIND OF RETAIL DESTINATION AND HUB OF COMMERCE.

time-read
6 mins  |
July 2021
Increased Focus on Health, Wellness, and Immunity-boosting Products
Progressive Grocer

Increased Focus on Health, Wellness, and Immunity-boosting Products

SALES OF PACKAGED FOODS HAVE SURGED SINCE THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC, AS HOME-BOUND CONSUMERS STOCKPILE FAMILIAR PRODUCTS THAT WON’T GO STALE QUICKLY. BREAKFAST CEREALS, INSTANT NOODLES, RICE AND COOKING FATS ARE AMONG THE PRODUCTS THAT HAVE SEEN THE STRONGEST GROWTH IN RECENT MONTHS.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2021
Consumer focus on hygiene & nutrition boosts packaged paneer sales
Progressive Grocer

Consumer focus on hygiene & nutrition boosts packaged paneer sales

THE DEMAND FOR CATEGORIES SUCH AS CHEESE AND PANEER HAS WITNESSED AN ALL-TIME NEW HIGH DURING THIS PANDEMIC THANKS TO THE VERSATILE NATURE OF THESE PRODUCTS. NOT ONLY IS PANEER DELICIOUS TO TASTE BUT DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE LOCKDOWN, THE INTERNET WAS TRENDING WITH UNIQUE, FUN AND EASY-TO-MAKE PANEER RECIPES.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2021
How Hormel Became a Snack Company
Progressive Grocer

How Hormel Became a Snack Company

ACQUISITIONS, ADJACENCIES AND INNOVATION DEFINE THE GLOBAL BRANDED FOOD COMPANY’S GROWTH STRATEGY

time-read
10+ mins  |
July 2021
The New Normal for Snacks
Progressive Grocer

The New Normal for Snacks

THE POST-PANDEMIC CONSUMER WILL DEMAND BETTER-FOR-YOU MEAL SOLUTIONS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.

time-read
6 mins  |
July 2021
The rise of superfoods and ways to mainstream them on retail shelves
Progressive Grocer

The rise of superfoods and ways to mainstream them on retail shelves

WHAT ARE SUPERFOODS AND THEIR BENEFITS AND WHY THESE PRODUCTS ARE WITNESSING A HUGE SURGE IN DEMAND? WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF INFUSING THESE SUPERFOODS INTO OUR TRADITIONAL FOOD PRODUCTS, AND HOW CAN THEIR VISIBILITY AND AWARENESS BE RAMPED UP IN ON-GROUND SHELVES OF SUPERMARKETS AND RETAIL COUNTERS?

time-read
8 mins  |
July 2021
What is driving consumers to become more conscious of what they eat?
Progressive Grocer

What is driving consumers to become more conscious of what they eat?

WITH CONSUMERS BECOMING MORE HEALTH-CONSCIOUS, RETAILERS HAVE ALSO STARTED MAKING SHIFTS IN THEIR OWN MERCHANDISING AND MARKETING TO KEEP UP WITH THE TREND.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2021