From wheat fields to bakery: Mondelēz advances sourcing transparency with Triscuit

25 Jun 2021 --- Mondelēz International has begun a food transparency program with the Triscuit brand. Consumers can discover the journey of the white-winter wheat baked into Triscuit crackers from a cooperative of farmers’ fields in Michigan, US, to where the product is made.

This data-driven, consumer-centric supply chain transparency pilot is the first of its kind for Mondelēz in North America.

The initiative reinforces the company’s commitments to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), including expanded insight into the provenance of essential ingredients. 

It comes amid growing transparency trends as global consumers demand more information about what’s in their food and where it comes from. It’s also in line with Innova Market Insights Top Ten Trend for 2021, Transparency Triumphs.

“We’re committed to understanding and meeting the growing needs and preferences of our consumers, and as consumers are demanding more transparency about their food, we’re eager to find ways to share more information about where their food comes from and how it is grown,” a Mondelēz spokesperson tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

“This project is an important step forward in our journey to providing more supply chain transparency and reinforces our commitments to ESG, including expanded insight into the provenance of essential ingredients. It has also been a learning process, and we look forward to taking those learnings and applying them to future potential projects,” they say.

Smartphone meets snack box
Consumers can use their smartphones to discover the journey of the wheat from the Triscuit brand’s Unity Gold Farmer Program from farms to the factory. 

The interactive web app experience can be accessed by scanning the QR code found on the front of Triscuit Original 8.5 ounce and Original Family Size boxes.

After entering the product’s “best by” date found on the packaging top flap, consumers can view the location of more than 127 farmers who participate in the Unity Gold Farmer Program and learn more about the wheat’s journey from the farms to the Co-op Elevator, mill and bakery.

Consumers can also access additional information specific to their particular batch of products, including the wheat harvest year and the baked-on date.

 Specially-marked Triscuit boxes with the QR code are rolling out over the next several weeks to retail stores across the US.

“The Triscuit transparency pilot is the first of its kind for Mondelez International in North America. We did a similar project with LU in France using traceability technology like blockchain to allow consumers to trace the journey of the Harmony wheat from field to shelf,” continues the spokesperson.

By Gaynor Selby