Franchise Agreement with SA2 Worldsync

Indicod-Ecr/GS1 Italy Appoints SA2 Worldsync to Run New GDSN Data Pool in Italy

On Jan. 1, 2009, Indicod-Ecr/GS1 Italy will launch the new data pool, which will be run by SA2 Worldsync, a leading provider of master data solutions for global trading partners. The SA2 Worldsync data pool is part of the Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN), which ensures standards-based connectivity across all data pools globally.

Thanks to the commitment of leading Italian retailers and suppliers Indicod-Ecr/GS1 Italy has optimistic growth plans for GDSN deployment. Italy is now the 20th country in the SA2 Worldsync community. SA2 Worldsync's GDSN certification enables Italian user companies to connect with another 17,000 potential trading partners worldwide. Indicod-Ecr/GS1 Italy user companies will improve efficiencies through the combination of SA2 Worldsync master data services and technologies, as well as consulting insights from GS1 Italy.

“Italian retailers run tremendously complex supply chains as they link with partners locally and from all over the world”, says Bruno Aceto, CEO of Indicod-Ecr/GS1 Italy. “Our new data pool will help them establish more efficient systems to share and synchronize item data that follows the global standards of GS1 in Italy,” Massimo Bolchini, Indicod-Ecr/GS1 Italy Standards Development Executive Director, explains: “The professional consultancy services, high-end technology infrastructure and practical experience with more than 2,600 user companies made SA2 Worldsync the perfect partner for us to ensure a successful GDSN deployment.”

“We are delighted to have been selected as the preferred partner for Indicod-Ecr/GS1 Italy”, says Nihat Arkan, CEO of SA2 Worldsync. “This relationship is a significant step forward within the framework of our globalization strategy. We look forward to helping local retailers and suppliers continue to remove workload and costs from their supply chains", comments Rolf Stark, Executive Director of SA2 Worldsync, who leads the customer relations with SA2 Franchisees globally. "Both - suppliers and retailers – will reap the benefits of more efficient processes and reduced capacity for errors that will help them become even more competitive.


About Indicod-Ecr, GS1 Italy
Indicod-Ecr/GS1 Italy, headquartered in Milano, Italy, is the largest Italian association gathering consumer goods’ manufacturers and retailers. Member companies are more than 33000. To become more efficient and reduce costs, companies involved in the production and retail of fast-moving consumer goods need systems that employ common languages and standards to facilitate dialogue between sectors. They also need common standards that bring some order to the vast landscape of goods and markets. In addition, such systems must make information exchange easier and, consequently, improve the entire manufacturer-retailer-consumer cycle.

Indicod-Ecr (GS1 Italy) is the Italian not-for-profit organisation that deals with the dissemination of GS1 global standards and, especially, with the barcode. It intends to promote relationships and information exchange between producers and retailers, thus making the entire supply-chain more effective and better able to meet consumer expectations. Today the Indicod-Ecr/GS1 Italy systems, standards and languages are used millions of times, every day, by companies and consumers. Indicod-Ecr/GS1 Italy is committed to constantly making these solutions more and more effective, efficient and widespread. All this is always done with an eye on promoting innovation: as a matter of fact, it is developing a Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN), to share data between companies, reduce transportation costs and cut down on shipment errors.
For more information, please visit www.indicod-ecr.it


About SA2 Worldsync
SA2 Worldsync, headquartered in Cologne, Germany, represents the interests of more than 50 of the world's leading retailers to ensure systems operate with accurate, up-to-date item information from suppliers. The company helps more than 2,600 suppliers align and synchronize master data (such as product, case and pallet information) with retailers through the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN).

SA2 Worldsync offers a range of services and supports new industry directions, such as price and product image synchronization. With operations in 15 countries and extensive multi-language capabilities, SA2 Worldsync has the largest global footprint to help suppliers and retailers from virtually everywhere integrate smoothly and efficiently. The company also offers the only data pool operational on three continents: Europe, North America and Asia. Customers of SA2 Worldsync include leading international retailers, such as Tesco, Ahold, METRO Group, Markant, Best Buy and COOP Suisse as well as many large suppliers, including SCA Hygiene, Sony Home Video and Dr. Oetker.

SA2 Worldsync, a joint venture of shareholders Pironet NDH AG, Agentrics LLC and GS1 Germany, was formed by the combination of SINFOS GmbH and the Agentrics data synchronization business unit in 2008. For more information, please visit www.sa2.com