Execs to provide insights into 'front burner' supply chain issues

Executives from Darden Restaurants, eBay, McKesson Corp. and Peapod.com will take the stage in a keynote session June 5, 2012, at the annual GS1 Connect conference, hosted by GS1 US.

Taking place June 5-7 in Las Vegas, the conference—with the theme "Business Moving Forward"—provides education for professionals on information standards and other issues affecting digital commerce and supply chains.

Joining GS1 US CEO Bob Carpenter in the kickoff general session will be: Jim Thomas, vp, supply management, Darden Restaurants; Amit Menipaz, senior director, global product management, eBay; Mark Walchirk, president, McKesson Specialty Health; and Tim Dorgan, vp, general manager of e-merchandising, Peapod.com.

"This is a unique combination of industry leaders covering critical, front-burner issues," Carpenter says. "Attendees will benefit from their views on information standards in support of business-to-business and business-to-consumer functionality for today and tomorrow. Small businesses and large businesses alike will get a lot out of this program."

The conference theme refers to companies' use of GS1 standards to help them better understand where their products and assets are, develop insights on business processes and to better meet their customers' needs. More than a thousand professionals will converge at GS1 Connect for a user-driven program focused on business-oriented tracks and more than 60 sessions and workshops, many of them focused on the Apparel, Fresh Foods, Foodservice, Healthcare, Retail, Consumer Packaged Goods and Hardlines industries.

Conferees will also learn how to build efficiencies across business processes to connect the operational areas across the value chain, including manufacturing, quality, safety, packaging, marketing, sales, B2B collaboration, operations, purchasing, transportation and logistics, and customer service.

GS1 Connect has been held annually since 2000, driven by a planning committee that includes representatives from several major retailers and suppliers.

Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, will also speak in a General Session keynote. Updates will be posted to Twitter: @GS1Connect.

Source: GS1 US

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