Manufacturing Experts & IIoT Technology Leaders Join Forces to Deliver End-to-End Supply Chain Traceability for the Fresh Food Sector

PSQR, iTrazo and Facteon have brought together a global track and trace software product, an Australasian fresh produce expert, and a New Zealand-based smart manufacturing technology partner and integrator to deliver the ultimate in end-to-end supply chain visibility for the fresh food sector.

The ability to track the movement of every product from seedling to supermarket is the ultimate protection in the fight against food fraud. This will also secure market access for New Zealand’s fresh food growers, processors, and packers.

“Every manufacturer in the fresh produce space has some degree of the data archive. Now is the time for the fresh food sector to make use of this data to secure the future of their businesses. We are seeing fresh food growers, processors and packers facing increasing pressure to provide the seedling to supermarket traceability required at border and retailer levels”, says Facteon Group General Manager John Cochrane.

He continues: “While there are traceability and software systems for the fresh food space, the integration between systems is lacking. Facteon brings manufacturing expertise and IIoT connectivity to this partnership, providing much-needed real-time information and supply chain connectivity”.

As consumers demand improved visibility over food origins, supermarkets and local governments are also requiring such visibility prior to admitting fresh food products into the market.

Ron Volpe, Chief Commercial Officer at PSQR, says: “It’s a matter of market access and consumer safety. The increasing globalisation of supply chains has made the traceability of fresh produce products far more complex. For that reason, we are seeing many manufacturers investing in IIoT traceability technologies and track and trace software to future-proof their businesses, ensure end-to-end supply chain visibility and market access and demonstrate the level of compliance required by retailers globally”.

Brand Protection with Traceability

In addition to ensuring market access and consumer safety, manufacturers also need to take definitive actions to protect their brand in the market.

“This level of supply chain visibility is unprecedented. It is also best achieved by looking to other highly competitive, cost sensitive and automated industries. This is what motivated Facteon, PSQR and iTrazo to partner to bring this high-impact solution to the fresh food space”, says Reeanjou Ram, Chief Executive Officer of iTrazo.

Facteon has successfully deployed its IIoT technology suite at the facilities of scaled manufacturers operating in Australasia, North America, China and Europe in the consumer goods, processed foods and bottling industries.

Facteon’s John Cochrane explains: “It’s not a matter of simply transplanting the technology. Instead, it’s about taking these learnings to the fresh food space. Facteon identified the need to establish partnerships with PSQR and iTrazo to bring this technology to a sector that needs it most. PSQR and iTrazo are pioneers in the fresh food traceability space. The opportunities for knowledge sharing are limitless”.

The fresh food industry is unique and has its own set of challenges. However, the common thread between industries is the need to trace the movement of product at every stage in the supply chain.

This level of protection against food fraud, quality assurance and food safety concerns is where the value lies for fresh food manufacturers and their customers.

This partnership brings together:

• Fresh produce processing expertise
• Traceability solution developed for the fresh produce industry
• Experience of a global software company specialised in traceability

All of this is in an effort to:

• Mitigate the risk of globalised supply chains
• Protect against food fraud
• Secure market access for New Zealand’s fresh food producers taking our best produce to the world.

Author: Nathan Soich, Head of Sales & Marketing at Facteon

About PSQR

PSQR is a Danish software development company. We specialise in highly scalable software for storing, processing and analysing vast amounts of supply chain data.

The company partners with:

• Track and trace software integrators
• Solutions providers
• Consultancies
• Industry bodies

to bring best-of-breed IT solutions to the world of traceability and insure end to end supply chain visibility.

Hereby empowering manufacturers, corporations and governments worldwide with digital track and trace capabilities. We enable our customers to tell the true story of their product origin and journey across the supply chain.

About iTrazo

iTrazo is the pioneer in trace technology, always looking for ways to enhance supply chain traceability and increasing consumer engagement.

iTrazo has built its traceability solutions on the foundation of the Internet of Things with a clear vision that every item can have a fully trackable active digital identity. Internal and cross border e-commerce along with standard value chain channels have long needed a solution that protects against:

• Product safety
• Counterfeiting
• Unauthorised diversions

iTrazo built a platform that brands can use to provide product security and gain insights about both their products and customers.

Transparency is key. Therefore, iTrazo determined that as well as creating world-beating tracing systems, it needed to include a way for consumers and businesses to communicate. iTrazo’s trace technology allows this direct communication and gives consumers the confidence that they have received an authentic product by simply using the camera on their smartphone.

Strategic partnerships with businesses in specialist sectors have allowed iTrazo to improve and expand its offering. From brand owner to consumer, it has always been iTrazo’s vision to enhance:

• Security,
• Transparency,
• Accountability, and
• Communication

for products and services around the world.

About Facteon

Facteon is an international technology business. They are committed to partnering with processors and packers, in conjunction with other industry leaders. Their aim is to bring world-class technologies from the wider manufacturing sector to the fresh food space.

With its roots in the highly competitive consumer goods manufacturing industry, Facteon is a smart manufacturing expert and integrator with a depth of experience developing Industrial IoT technology solutions that provide real time data insights into machinery performance, product quality and batch traceability.

Facteon’s depth of understanding of manufacturing technologies is unrivalled having worked alongside scaled manufacturers throughout Australasia, China, Europe and North America. Established in New Zealand in 1981 as the internal engineering division of Fisher & Paykel, Facteon is now part of a global group of companies which includes Haier, GE Appliances, Candy Hoover and Fisher & Paykel.

For more information or media enquiries:
Nathan Soich, Facteon
E: Nathan.Soich@facteon.global; M: 027 808 2196