In October 2024, Target announced that its program will follow the FDA’s final rule on food traceability for certain foods, requiring traceability data to be shared for all Food Traceability List (FTL) foods and for those that use FTL foods as an ingredient. However, Target also stated plans to expand the program to include ALL FOODS in the future, with the objective to “implement these standards across all foods received at a Target facility and use the traceability data to improve freshness and fuel our collective business growth.”

Other industry giants – including Kroger and Walmart – have also made public commitments to require traceability data from suppliers. ReposiTrak can help you to take your traceability data to any of your retail, wholesale or restaurant customers to meet their unique requirements.

The goal of traceability, according to the FDA, is the “faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market, resulting in fewer foodborne illnesses and/or death.” As a result, every food supplier, retailer, wholesaler and restaurant in the country is now part of the largest data collaboration project in the history.

If you’d like to talk to an expert at ReposiTrak about traceability for your company, please fill out the form below.

Traceability starts with the supplier

Traceability is the process of using data to permanently document a product’s path through the supply chain from its point of origin, through every stage of production and distribution, and ultimately to the place where it’s sold to the end consumer.

If your customer requires traceability, you – the supplier – are required to DO traceability now. Failing to comply (or simply under-complying) with the traceability requirements of your customers could jeopardize the relationships you’ve built with them. Additionally, you could be hurting your chances of building new relationships with other major retailers or wholesalers – like Walmart or Sysco – that you’d hoped to have in the future.

What are Target’s requirements for suppliers?

Target is utilizing GS1 standards across its traceability program. Suppliers will be required to transmit an EDI 856 Advanced Ship Notice (ASN) for every shipment to Target with information at the pallet and/or case level that includes (but is not limited to):

• Global Location Number (GLN)
• Lot/Batch Code
• Purchase Order Number
• Ship-To Location Number
• The Traceability Lot Code (TLC) GLN
• All available date codes: Expiration/best by, harvest/pack date

Fast, easy traceability data sharing with Target and other customers is possible.

Getting traceability-ready NOW through the ReposiTrak Traceability Network is fast, easy and inexpensive. Thousands of suppliers, retailers and wholesalers are already in the process of connecting to the ReposiTrak Traceability Network to share any and all traceability data and meet the unique requirements of their trading partners.

Are your customers asking for traceability?

Watch the video to learn more: