© 2011 1SYNC | | Proprietary and Confidential Kroger Accelerated GTIN Conversion Global Data Synchronization (GTIN) Project

© 2011 1SYNC | | Proprietary and Confidential

Kroger Accelerated GTIN Conversion

Global Data Synchronization (GTIN) Project


Why is Kroger asking its suppliers to convert to Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs)?

• Kroger is re-engineering its internal systems and processes to support a full conversion to GDS.

• One of the key components of this initiative requires that a supplier’s items be GTIN-compliant.

• Part of our journey towards GDSN implementation is to get your items GTIN compliant within our current product database.

– One of the steps that 1SYNC is doing for us as they help us with this massive task is to ensure the new case GTINs that you provide on the spreadsheet match to what you published to us (if you are currently a GDSN member) for the case GTIN and its pack size.

– We are converting many thousands of vendors and hundreds of thousands of items, and this automated process is the method we developed to help us successfully accomplish this in an acceptable timeframe.

• GTINs will then become the key item identifier in all EDI transactions with its suppliers (EDI version 5010).

• June 30, 2012 is the deadline for this conversion effort.

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Who is included in the scope of this conversion?

• All of Kroger’s non-GTIN converted vendors who have orderable cases

• If you have received an email with the subject line: Kroger GTIN Conversion / GDSN Initiative - ACTION REQUIRED, then you have been identified as having products that could be in the scope of this project.

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What is the process to convert your UPC’s to GTIN’s?• You will receive a packet containing Kroger Merchandising Letter, GTIN

Conversion Project FAQ, EDI Conversion FAQ, and the Kroger EDI Partner Guide.

• IMPORTANT: Please fill out the Kroger GTIN/5010 Conversion Questionnaire (often referred to as the Vendor Checklist) at http://edi.kroger.com/ediforms within 10 business days of receipt.

– Even if you feel your items are not impacted by this project, please fill out the checklist. If you are DSD only and do not have product in any Kroger warehouses or do not do business with us, there are fields on the questionnaire that you can check.

– If you have additional comments that you want to make, please click yes for the question “Are there any specific dates in which you would be unable to perform this conversion process?” and add your comments in the section below the question.

• If we determine you should remain in scope for this project, 1SYNC will contact you to confirm a conversion date. You will have 10 business days to request a change to your conversion date.

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Global Data Synchronization (GTIN) ProjectWhat is the process to convert your UPC’s to GTIN’s? (cont’d)

• You will receive a list of case UPCs along with further information four weeks prior to your scheduled conversion date.

• If you are already on a Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) publish your GTINs to Kroger (GLN 0011110000019). This will allow 1Sync to compare the Case GTIN’s you provide us on the spreadsheet. Kroger cannot receive your published data at this time and cannot return a Catalog Information Confirmation (CIC).

– If you want to start GDS you may choose any data pool. While Kroger does not endorse any particular data pool, 1SYNC is Kroger's preferred data pool provider. Additional information on GDSN-certified data pools can be found at www.gs1us.org or http://edi.kroger.com

• Once you have completed filling out your Kroger case UPC list with the GTIN converted items, send the list back to 1SYNC.

• If you have items which are discontinued or for whom you are no longer the owner, please provide this information on the Kroger case UPC list so Kroger can update its information.

• If you do EDI transactions with Kroger, you will need to update to EDI Version 5010 before or the same day as your GTIN Conversion.

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Common Questions• CIC’s (Catalog Item Confirmation) – Kroger will be unable to respond with CIC’s

until its internal systems are on-line. We ask that you publish so your data can be verified. New items will be handled with an NIF (New Item Form), as well as through GDSN.

• Publishing your data to Kroger does not convert your items to GTIN in our current database.

• Private label items – If you are doing EDI version 5010 with Kroger, our private label items will be sent as GTIN-14 with a 0 + 12 digit U.P.C. + check digit. This is a restriction within our EDI system. Another project is defining the hierarchies within our Kroger Private Label products.

• Packaging – Kroger recommends that you change your packaging to reflect your GTIN within 3 months from your conversion.

• Fred Meyer Scope - Fred Meyer General Group exclusive suppliers are currently out of scope. However, suppliers that supply products to other Kroger (Peyton) warehouses need to convert to GTIN and will also need to convert to EDI version 5010.

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Common Questions – Cont’d.

•Distributors– Let your distributors know that you need to convert to GTIN-14. If they are communicating with Kroger via EDI, they need to convert to EDI version 5010 to avoid any disruptions in communication.

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What if I have questions?

• Please contact 1SYNC at 1 866.280.4013, option 4 or [email protected]

• If you have EDI related questions regarding this initiative, please contact Kroger via email at [email protected].

• Please visit http://edi.kroger.com to view the Kroger GTIN/EDI FAQ document and this webinar presentation.

• Please visit http://www.1sync.org/kroger for more information regarding this initiative.

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QUESTIONS?


Documents

© 2011 1SYNC | | Proprietary and Confidential Kroger Accelerated GTIN Conversion Global Data Synchronization (GTIN) Project