9.17.2008 - 03:30pm ET

(CSRwire) The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Connected Sources (CS) have signed contracts to develop an I.T. management system for the new BRC Directory database.

The database will allow retailers to check the accreditation of any one of more than 13,000 premises run by suppliers certificated to the BRC Global Standards.

The Global Standards help suppliers win and keep business with retailers by enabling them to demonstrate they are achieving the levels of quality and safety required by retailers and meeting the legal requirements of the markets they serve. The Standards also give retailers a reliable and cost effective way of ensuring safety and quality in their supply chain.

The four Global Standards, covering Food Safety, Packaging, Consumer Products and Storage & Distribution, are widely recognised throughout the world.

The new Global Standards Directory will be launched in April 2009. It will be available to both BRC members and other international retailers.

By utilising Connected Sources' extensive experience, the Directory will use the latest technology to allow large numbers of users individual secure access to information about BRC certificated suppliers.

The Directory will be fully interactive, web based and available 24/7. It will allow the BRC to provide users with more data from certification audits and that data will be more up to the minute. It will enhance monitoring of the performance of certification bodies and reduce the administrative burden for all users.

This will help retailers, manufacturers and certification bodies to manage all key information about BRC certificated suppliers. It will put the BRC at the heart of supply chain management throughout the world.

John Cormode, Chief Executive of BRC Trading said: "After a careful and rigorous selection process, including extensive consultation with our members and other users, we've chosen Connected Sources. They have strong expertise in this market, a worldwide network and proven technology already in use by leading international retailers. The Global Standards Directory is a radically new way for us to provide extensive, up to date information on BRC certified suppliers and sites."

Stephane Dugelay, Chief Operations Officer of Connected Sources said: "Connected Sources is delighted to have been selected by the BRC as their exclusive technology partner for their major new certification database. Our IT platform brings the robustness, scalability, intuitiveness and connectivity needed to support the continuous development of the BRC Global Standards throughout the world, for years to come. The BRC's project perfectly matches the mission of Connected Sources which is to provide best-in-class collaborative solutions for global supply chain initiatives."

About the BRC:

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is the leading retail trade association. We represent the whole range of retailers, from large multiples and department stores to small independents, selling all types of products through town-centre, out-of-town, rural and online stores.

The BRC is a leading international Standards body and the BRC Global Standards are widely recognised throughout the world, with over 13,000 certificated supplier sites in 90 countries. The BRC Global Standards form a suite of product safety standards that cover Food Safety, Consumer Products, Packaging & Packaging Materials and Storage & Distribution enabling certification of the supply chain.
www.brc.uk www.brcglobalstandards.com

About Connected Sources:

Connected Sources (CS) is a company with offices in London, Paris, New York and Hong Kong with a unique combination of software and expertise in supplier risk management. An alliance between Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world and leading web services provider Trace One, Connected Sources delivers global solutions for supplier compliance and certification management to retailers, brands and industry initiatives, combining the best of software and supply chain expertise.
www.connectedsources.com

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