June 26, 2019 | 1 minute read

Walmart China Blockchain Traceability Platform uses the VeChainThor Blockchain to track food product supply chains and guarantee food safety.

Walmart China will be using a blockchain-based platform to monitor food supply chain and ensure food safety across the country.

According to a June 25 press release, Walmart China is working on the platform with VeChain, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Inner Mongolia Kerchin, and the China Chain-Store & Franchise Association.

Using the VeChainThor Blockchain, Walmart China Blockchain Traceability Platform (WBCTP) already tracks 23 product lines and will add another 100 products in the future. The target of WBCTP is to cover 10 product categories, including meat and vegetables.

“It is expected that the Walmart China’s traceability system will see traceable fresh meat account for 50% of the total sales of packaged fresh meat, traceable vegetables will account for 40% of the total sales of packaged vegetables, traceable seafood will account for 12.5% of the total sales of seafood by the end of 2020.”

Through WBCTP, customers can scan the products using a smartphone then view product information. Details include the source of the product, the route taken from the source to the supermarket, among others.

Shi Jiaqi, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Walmart China, said in the press release:

“We use digital methods to improve efficiency and transparency, providing products and services of quality to customers and making life better for busy families in China.”

Walmart China’s move toward the utilization of blockchain technology follows the US supermarket giant’s decision to join IBM’s Food Trust blockchain in April this year.

Based on a Forbes report, Walmart in the US is now capable of tracking 25 products from at least five suppliers.

Meanwhile, the retail giant joined MediLedger earlier this month with the aim to create a blockchain solution that will track pharmaceutical products.

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