The ‘Food Service Information Challenge’ report released today by the Food Services Director Group (FSDG) reveals that the industry needs to collaborate to address the issue of inaccurate information head on. Andrew Stinchcombe-Gillies, GS1 UK Head of Industry Development, FoodService & FSDG Chairman:
“With many experts anticipating that product information requirements are set to double in the next five years, the industry must take action by working together to prepare for this challenge. It is more important than ever to have the right product, with the right information, in the right place at the right time with the right cost.”
Food Services Director Group
The FSDG is a strategic industry group within not-for-profit supply chain standards and solutions organisation, GS1 UK, which collaborates to achieve a common approach to overcoming key sector challenges. Members include senior directors from leading food service organisations including: Brakes, Mitchells & Butlers, Unilever, Whitbread and Compass.
Numerous, complex demands for information
The Food Services sector faces numerous and complex challenges. The increased demand for transparency and in particular for accurate and consistent information from consumers such as where and how a product is made, nutritional and allergen information and product specification is a driving factor.
As is the rise of the CSR agenda for food and packaging waste, consumers wishing to eat more healthy, legislative changes and the evolution of the savvy shopper who has the desire and capability to research everything before buying or making a choice.
In particular, with the growing concerns towards healthy eating and allergies, the failure to provide more information on product ingredients could have serious consequences for both the brand owner and the food service organisations who could be exposed should inaccurate information cause consumers to be harmed.
Information quality will become a key priority for the industry with the requirement to supply robust, accurate information across ingredients, packaging waste, energy, water and food allergens set to increase. All result in an exponential increase in the quantity of information companies require to supply the industry and consumers.
The need to identify, capture and share information
The report concludes that the demand for information is not going to go away: it is predicted that information demands are set to double from over 200 to over 400 attributes for each product in the next five years. To keep pace with industry expectations and to manage information efficiently and economically, food manufacturers, operators and suppliers need to work together to make it easier to do business through identifying, capturing and sharing consistent information effectively and efficiently.
Commenting on the findings, CEO, GS1 UK, Gary Lynch, said:
“The Food Service Information Challenge report highlights the significant benefits of adopting unified information standards across the Food Services supply chain, for both the industry and consumers.
“Without implementing these standards, the Food Services industry runs the risk of failing to cope with the growing information requirements that CSR, legislation and consumer demand. Information quality is a priority for the industry, which now has an obligation to provide robust, accurate information across ingredients, packaging waste, energy, water and allergens. Organisations can face potential serious consequences and loss of brand integrity if a consumer is harmed as a result of inaccurate product information.”
“With the amount of information associated with each product set to double in the next five years, the industry must take action to prepare for this. If it doesn’t, then not only will companies be losing money through unnecessary additional work and wastage but there are also significant risks to consumers that can be caused by poor data practices. It is more important than ever to have the right product, with the right information, in the right place at the right time for the right cost.”
For more information on the FSDG group, please contact Andrew Stinchcombe-Gillies, Head of Industry Development, FoodService on andrew.gillies@gs1uk.org
To download a copy of the report, please go to www.gs1uk.org
About GS1 UK
GS1 UK is a not for profit organisation, funded by its 26,000 members and part of the global GS1 Network. It has over 35 years of experience working with businesses across many sectors including retail, food service and healthcare. Its members range from small manufacturers, leading retailers and brands such as Unilever, Tesco, Kraft and Sainsbury’s and food service organisations including Brakes, Compass, Sodexo, Mitchells & Butlers and Whitbread. GS1 UK’s aim is to make it faster, safer, cheaper and safer for its members to serve their customers through the development and deployment of open, global standards.
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