Makro and Mitchells & Butlers to contribute their expertise to GS1 UK

London, 5 February 2008 – GS1 UK, the independent global supply chain standards and solutions organisation, has announced the appointment of two new Supervisory Board members representing the food service and retail industries.  The 2008 GS1 UK Supervisory Board will now also include Mr Richard Pratt, Commercial Director of Mitchells & Butlers Plc and Dr Stefan Hesse, Finance, IT and Logistics Director of Makro UK (part of the METRO Group).

Commenting on his appointment, Richard Pratt said: “Mitchells & Butlers has a great deal of experience of working with GS1 UK to improve product data quality in the supply chain within the food service sector.  We understand the importance of developing GS1 standards that meet industries’ requirements as a prerequisite to improving the efficiency of supply chains.  I am committed to contributing and sharing my experiences with GS1 UK and other industry sectors to help drive the wide spread adoption of GS1 standards.” 

"METRO Group has always taken a leading role in developing standards within the industry through its participation in national and international bodies and I hope to contribute the experience of the METRO Group to GS1 UK.  This will allow Makro UK to stay in pace with the best available technologies and standards in our market whilst benefiting the whole FMCG industry in the UK," said Stefan Hesse. 

“We are delighted that both Richard and Stefan have agreed to join GS1 UK’s Supervisory Board.  They both bring with them a wealth of industry experience and knowledge that will add yet more value to an already strong Board,” said James Spittle, Chairman of GS1 UK.  “We look forward to working with them to continue driving the adoption of GS1 standards across all industries.” 

Richard Pratt has more than 20 years’ experience in the food service sector and over the last seven years has been involved in developing the industry data standards that are now incorporated in the GS1 System.  As the founder member and director of the GS1 UK Food Service Interest Group (previously known as OFSCI), Richard is dedicated to increasing the efficiency of the food service supply chain and has worked closely with GS1 UK to achieve this. 

Stefan Hesse has over 12 years’ experience within the METRO Group, working in the German based head office, Netherlands market as well as establishing the Cash & Carry organisations in Bulgaria and Romania.  GS1 UK has worked closely with Makro UK during the past few years on their adoption of Global data synchronisation (GDS) to align their product data with their suppliers.

For more information contact:

Lisa Henshaw or Kirsty Sewter
Fourth Day PR
+44 (0)20 7403 4411

Suraya Adnan-Ariffin
GS1 UK
+44 (0)20 70923575

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