Multinational retail heavyweight Carrefour will reportedly be utilizing IBM-developed blockchain to assist with tracking for two major food categories. 

Specifically, the IBM blockchain Food Trust will reportedly function as a tracking tool for Carrefour, regarding its the farm-to-store food supply lines, following a deal between the operating entity for Carrefour in the Middle East – Majid Al Futtaim – and IBM. 

The IBM Food Trust reportedly functions as a blockchain-specific platform dedicated to the food sector, operated on the IBM cloud. 

Carrefour will reportedly include a QR code on its associated merchandise, which consumers can scan and retrieve details regarding the food’s whole production process, with related data covering product origin, date of production, transportation data, ingredients, health and halal certifications, nutrition stats, and temperature data.

Gulf Business reportedly mentioned a recent IBM Institute for Business survey, which showed that 73% of responses prefer a traceability measure with better performance for their products, and 71% of the surveyed claimed they will be good with spending additional money for the tool. 

Hani Weiss – Head of Majid Al Futtaim Retail – reportedly shared that trust in international food supply chains was becoming a crucial challenge – disturbed by the happening of the ongoing global health pandemic. 

“Trust in the food supply is becoming increasingly important worldwide, a trend accelerated by changing consumer demands and the subsequent health and wellbeing concerns arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Weiss reportedly believed that blockchain will offer an enhancement in operational efficiency, as well as forming a stronger customer trust and loyalty.