DSD companies deliver their products, which typically have high turnover at the store or are fragile and/or perishable, directly to retailers, rather than through a warehouse system. DSD categories include snack foods, carbonated beverages, bread, milk, frozen pizza and beer.

The new task force, which is a subcommittee of GMA's standing DSD committee, will:

ú Recommend technical requirements for DSD companies to participate in industry exchanges and other business to business initiatives

ú Act as a voice for the DSD community on critical e-commerce initiatives in the food and CPG industry

ú Act as a liaison between DSD companies and trade exchanges, standards organizations and Application service providers

ú Share best practices for DSD with the food and CPG industry

Among the task force's first initiatives will be a white paper outlining DSD business models and processes, and recommending technical requirements for DSD companies to participate in industry exchanges and other business-to-business enterprises.

"This new task force will open the lines of communication between DSD companies and the trade exchanges serving our industry," said Ann Dozier, director of e-business and customer systems, Coca-Cola Enterprises, and chair of the task force. "The exchanges and other service providers can use the DSD e-commerce task force as a resource for new concepts and for ensuring that planned standards and service offerings are compatible with the needs of the DSD community."

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