Wakefern Builds on Food Safety, Compliance Program
Wakefern Food Corp. has joined forces with San Francisco-bases supply chain risk management company Icix to expand the retailer-owned cooperative's food safety and compliance program. The Icix Product Specification solution will enable Wakefern to collaborate with food manufacturers and manage private label data requirements.
"We implemented icix to drive transparency into our supply chain and assist us with a single source of information for supply chain compliance," said Mike Ambrosio, VP, quality assurance at Keasbey, N.J.-based Wakefern. "Food safety is a point of paramount importance to Wakefern, and icix will provide us with powerful tools to collaborate with our supply chain to assist with compliance, safety and quality while protecting Wakefern’s family of brands."
"Wakefern is an industry leader in food safety and compliance and is recognized for embracing innovative technologies to effectively run their business," noted Matt Smith, Icix founder and chief strategy officer.
Private Label Supply Chain Management
The co-op currently employs the icix Relationship Manager application to facilitate the collection of key compliance documentation from its supply chain. With Icix Audit Collect, Wakefern centralizes GFSI audit and certification information directly from scheme owners and certification bodies, tracks audit performance and recertification requirements, and manages corrective and preventive actions directly with trading partners. These two applications provide a foundation for managing the grocer's private label supply chain. Wakefern will leverage the Icix Product Specification application to work with private label food manufacturers on product specifications and certifications, as well as to manage and report on nutritional and allergen information.
Wakefern has 49 members that individually own and operate more than 250 supermarkets under the ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. The company also operates more than 50 PriceRite stores in eight states.