Bofrost Italia selects EY to develop blockchain platform for tracking frozen foods

Bofrost Italia, a company known for its door-to-door sale and distribution of frozen foods, is the latest company in the food sector looking to leverage blockchain technology to track its products along the supply chain.

For this, the company has selected EY to develop a blockchain solution using the EY OpsChain solution, EY’s enterprise-grade blockchain platform launched in 2017.

"The decision by Bofrost Italia to go with EY OpsChain is a further endorsement of the efficiency and scalability that comes with public networks. No suppliers will be forced to join a proprietary, closed blockchain network,” Paul Brody, EY Global Blockchain Leader, said.

According to the press release, the blockchain developed by EY for Bofrost Italia has a tokenized model and uses the standard ERC-721 tokens for the collection of supply chain data. The model would also provide a mechanism for further evolution of the solution, such as automating procurement, order inventory and other processes.

“Using the Ethereum public blockchain for the Bofrost Italia solution allows each of the players in the supply chain to record their information, without any possibility of altering the data from the outside,” the release said.

The blockchain-based solution will be initially rolled out for Bofrost Italia's two best-sellers – fillets of Northern cod and artichoke heart wedges.

Customers simply need to scan the QR code on the packaging, or enter the code manually, which will then take them to Bofrost Italia's web page where they can view key product details – right from their origin through the various steps of the supply chain, until they arrive at the customer's table. The smartphone scan feature will be available to Bofrost Italia's customers starting July 2019.

"Launching our blockchain for customers is part of our strategic initiative to further our relationship with current and prospective customers as a trusted supplier that now offers a way to ascertain and certify product quality,” Gianluca Tesolin, Bofrost Italia Managing Director, said.

“All Bofrost Italia's data is accessible and totally transparent, and by scanning the QR code on the package, customers can see the history of the product directly on a smartphone. As a result, consumers will be able to make informed purchasing choices, based on verifiable information regarding the origin, quality and safety of our products."