GMA Task Force Addresses Direct-Store-Delivery Issues

Compiled ByDave Schafer The food and consumer product industry has a new Big Brother to oversee e-commerce: The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA). GMA is launching a new task force to focus on critical e-commerce issues that impact that industry's direct store delivery (DSD) system. DSD companies deliver their products, which often have high turnover at the store or are fragile and perishable, directly to retailers rather than use a warehouse system, GMA says. DSD categories include snack foods, carbonated beverages, bread, milk, frozen pizza, and beer. "This new task force will open the lines of communication between DSD companies and the trade exchanges serving our industry," says Ann Dozier, task force chair and director of e-business and customer systems with Coca-Cola Enterprises. "The exchanges and other service providers can use the DSD e-commerce task force as a resource for new concepts and for ensuring that planned standards and service offerings are compatible with the needs of the DSD community." GMA says the new task force, a subcommittee of GMA's standing DSD committee, will:

Recommend technical requirements for DSD companies to participate in industry exchanges and other business-to-business initiatives

Act as a voice for the DSD community on e-commerce initiatives in the food and consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) industry

Act as a liaison between DSD companies and trade exchanges, standards organizations, and application-service providers.

Share best practices for DSD with the food and CPG industry.