Wakefern Syncing Variable-Weight Items

MICHAEL GARRY

ORLANDO, Fla. – Wakefern Food Corp. last week began synchronizing variable-weight perishable-item product data with suppliers through the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN).

“We’re now capable of bringing that data in,” said Michael Durning, manager of data integrity for Wakefern, during a session yesterday at the U Connect Live conference here.

Wakefern synchronizes 86 data attributes with suppliers for 20,000 warehouse items, he said. Over the next six to 12 months, the Keasbey, N.J.-based wholesale cooperative, which supports 233 ShopRite and 47 PriceRite stores, will be “working on engaging the GDSN” to support new direct-store delivery items. “We’re looking to get more and better information into the DSD environment,” he said. “We don’t want to deal with half the items in a store.”

Wakefern also plans to incorporate consumer-related product attributes such as nutritional information and allergens into its data synchronization program. “We want to make the consumer shopping experience better by getting better information to them,” he said. “We’re going to be looking for a lot of information.”