Carrefour reveals blockchain sales boost

Carrefour has reported an (undisclosed) increase in sales following implementation of blockchain technology to track meat, milk and fruit from farms to stores, Reuters reports.

The French retailer has launched this for 20 items including chicken, eggs, raw milk, oranges, pork and cheese, and will add 100 more this year with a focus on areas where consumers want reassurance, like baby and organic products.

“You are building a halo effect - ‘If I can trust Carrefour with this chicken, I can also trust them for their apples or cheese,’” said Emmanuel Delerm, Carrefour’s Blockchain Project Manager

Carrefour is one of several retailers testing out blockchain technology. Yesterday, we reported that Walmart had joined the MediLedger consortium, which is building a blockchain for tracking pharmaceutical supply chains. A spokeswoman confirmed its participation to CoinDesk but made no further comment.

Meanwhile, the Hyperledger consortium recently published a case study detailing how Walmart is “leading unparalleled transparency in the food supply chain”.

It tested numerous approaches before turning its attention to blockchain. Two Proof of Concept (POC) projects, one in the US and one in China, solidified its commitment to the technology and Hyperledger Fabric. It is now leading industry-wide adoption with a coalition involving the likes of Nestle and Unilever. You can check out a case study here.