Products requiring refrigeration hold an increasingly major position amongst Mass Retailing products. Temperature inspections and respect for the cold chain guarantee the organoleptic and sanitary quality of products.

Collective collaboration is required from producers, distributors and consumers alike to meet this objective.

Agri-food industrials prove their commitment to improving the quality of their products and thereby improve the image that they convey to consumers.

Industrials have been working for dozens of years to respond to such legitimate consumer expectations, producing increasing numbers of labels and certificates. Product traceability is now a widespread concept. Questions concerning monitoring within the cold chain arise frequently, as shown in studies and surveys :

• Traceability-related questions are felt to be “very important” to “important” for 95% of consumers.
  Study conducted by MV2 Conseil, GS1 France – February 2006
• For 50% of people questioned, “a sound product” is a product that respects the cold chain during transport and storage.
  Taylor Nelson Sofres Institute – February 2002
• 85% of consumers feel that better monitoring of the cold chain is required for fresh products.
  BVA Survey – June 2000
• 57% of consumers feel that affixing freshness chips to fresh perishable products is a priority.
  60 million consumers – February 1999