Nonprofit organization GS1 US along with 55 foodservice manufacturers, distributors and operators have launched the Foodservice GS1 US Standards Initiative. The initiative recommends adoption of a common timeline for voluntary company implementation of GS1 Global standards for company identification, item identification and product description.

The three main objectives of the initiative are: to drive waste out of the foodservice supply chain, improve product information for customers and establish a foundation for improving food safety and traceability. So far, 45 of the initiative's founding member companies have committed to the common timeline. For a complete list of the founding member companies, click here.

The initiative is endorsed by the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA), the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA), the National Restaurant Association, and GS1 Canada Foodservice. For more information about GS1 US Standards Initiative, visit www.gs1us.org.