Carrefour and SGS Launch Visual Trust in China

Carrefour and SGS have launched Visual Trust in China. Visual Trust is an end-to-end digital solution that allows Chinese shoppers to check the quality and origins of their purchases by scanning food with their smartphones. When shoppers scan products, they gain immediate access to quality certificates, test results, locations and pictures of farms, as well as nutritional advice.

Brands have invested billions in food safety and sustainability, and it’s time consumers know more about it, the company said. SGS and its two technology partners, Transparency-One and Blippar, offer a unique experience, turning supply chain information into brand value. As explained by the company:

• SGS, a global expert in testing, inspection and certification, active in 140 countries, brings credibility of information, such as quality certificates.
• Transparency-One, a supply chain transparency solution based upon powerful graph technology, can map supply chains from farm to fork to collect key product and facility information
• Blippar's technology leverages advanced image recognition, computer vision and augmented reality to enable shoppers to scan products or packaging with the Blippar app to unlock essential product information.
• Carrefour is the first international retailer to bundle, graph technology, visual recognition, consumer engagement and augmented reality to build full supply-chain transparency from farm to fork. Other retailers will soon propose the same type of experience to their customers in China and abroad.

“A trusted supply chain means full supply-chain transparency from farm to plate,” said Carrefour China National Food Safety and Quality Director Herve Martin. “The Visual Trust initiative launched in partnership with SGS is a key element for our customers.”