TraceGains and iFoodDS Extend Strategic Alliance

WESTMINSTER, Colo. and SEATTLE – TraceGains and iFoodDS announced an extension of their strategic alliance, aiming to strengthen integration between TraceGains Supplier Management and iFoodDS Trace Exchange to help food and beverage companies and their suppliers transform FSMA 204 compliance into a source of competitive advantage, the companies said. 

TraceGains’ global network spans more than 100,000 supplier locations and iFoodDS’ Trace Exchange platform provides a flexible traceability solution purpose-built to support FSMA 204 requirements across complex supplier networks, TraceGains and iFooDS said.

A cornerstone of the partnership is the ability for suppliers to earn the TraceApproved FSMA 204 traceability readiness badge through iFoodDS and showcase that credential directly on their supplier profiles within Gather, the TraceGains supplier marketplace. Food and beverage companies can then search for and engage suppliers that have demonstrated their readiness to comply with FSMA 204, the companies reported. 

The integration also seeks to enable seamless data sharing between the platforms, including master product and location data as well as critical tracking event data, according to TraceGains and iFoodDS. This aims to support integrated reporting within TraceGains Supplier Management. 

“This alliance offers a differentiated alternative to legacy approaches to traceability and supplier management,” said Gary Iles, chief marketing officer, Esko and TraceGains. “Food and beverage companies can find proven, traceability-ready suppliers, monitor FSMA 204 compliance, and manage supplier data and documents in one place — while suppliers gain a clear way to stand out in a competitive marketplace.”

“Many suppliers are already taking proactive steps toward FSMA 204 compliance by adopting iFoodDS’ flexible, cost-effective traceability software and completing our TraceApproved readiness program,” said Scott Mathews, chief executive officer at iFoodDS. “Our expanded alliance with TraceGains streamlines supplier workflows and gives suppliers a powerful way to showcase their traceability capabilities to current and prospective customers.”

The TraceApproved program is designed to help suppliers prepare for FSMA 204 requirements while meeting customer-specific data-sharing and labeling expectations, the companies said.