Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn and soft drinks bottler Refresco have launched a blockchain mapping technology to increase chain transparency.

By scanning the quick response (QR) code through their smartphone devices, consumers will be able to track the supply chain of Albert Heijn’s ambient orange juice, which is sourced from Louis Dreyfus Company’s (LDC) juice business using oranges grown in Brazil. The juice is then bottled by Rofresco before being supplied to  Albert Heijn.

The blockchain mapping technology also provides information about the orange’s harvest date range and degree of sweetness.

Albert Heijn’s commercial director Marit van Egmond said: “We supply millions of customers with good food and drink on a daily basis.

“We are making our products healthier, are working on reducing food waste and we look at how to reduce our impact on the environment.”

“This brings with it a large responsibility, and we want to actively contribute to current themes in the world around us.

“We are making our products healthier, are working on reducing food waste and we look at how to reduce our impact on the environment.”

The blockchain mapping technology records every step in the supply chain, which allows the company to show customers how and by who the products are made.

Refresco Benelux’s managing director Maarten Kusters: “This is a unique way of bringing together the grower, processor, bottler, retailer and consumer and making the entire process of fruit juice production traceable and transparent.

“We aim for 100% sustainably-sourced juice by 2030 in fruit juice products of our clients. In support of this ambition, we co-founded the Sustainable Juice Covenant last year, alongside other leading industry players.”