The will to live an ideal way in which, simply by using your mobile device, you can know everything, absolutely everything about what you are drinking or eating: from the origin details of the producer to the indications on processing, storage, shipping, and expiry dates of the product. These are the premises that prompted Caffè Barbera, the oldest Italian roasting company, to embrace the possibilities offered by blockchain technology to show and demonstrate to consumers all the commitment and work behind a high-quality cup of coffee
Naples, November 2021 – After offering its customers the opportunity to buy coffee also with cryptocurrencies on the Caffebarberashop.com e-commerce, thanks to the collaboration with Algorand & BleumiPay, Caffè Barbera, the oldest coffee roaster in Italy with over 150 years of history, continues the process of technological innovation put in place to ensure full and complete traceability and transparency of its ‘supply chain’ process through blockchain technology and, among the first to experiment with it, in a completely decentralized way to the entire supply chain. An important step made by the historic Neapolitan brand with a very strong propensity for innovation of such a traditional product like coffee, thanks also to a young management generation able to seize the opportunities offered by new technologies and renew its position on a market where trust and transparency become selection criteria on a par with the aspects linked to the values of ‘ethics’ and ‘sustainability’.
“We were the first in the sector to have introduced the possibility of purchasing our coffee also with cryptocurrencies on our e-commerce platform. A courageous choice that the market has rewarded even beyond our wildest expectations, “declares Elio Barbera, Managing Director of Caffè Barbera, who adds:” from here comes the stimulus to always look carefully at how technological innovation can bring value to our products. Thanks to the implementation of a decentralized blockchain protocol capable of validating our precious supply chain and demonstrating to our consumers the long journey of coffee, from the plantation to the cup, we have emphasized an aspect that is fundamental for us: to make known to all the positive impact that a shared policy between all the players in the supply chain can have on society and the environment. ”
To support the full operation of the traceability and transparency process of Caffè Barbera’s supply chain through blockchain, there is Trackgood, a New Zealand software house supported by NEM Ventures. Trackgood is a supply chain tracking and impact tracing tool that enables brands to build transparency in their supply chain with ease and share their impact stories with their customers to back their sustainability claims. Trackgood enables supply chain visibility by recording each step along an enterprise’s supply chain on the blockchain to provide an immutable record that can be viewed by consumers through an easy-to-use mobile app.
“The challenge we wanted to take up is an aspect related to a specific consumer need that can no longer be overlooked. In fact, 96% of this group is convinced that products from sustainable sources and made according to ethical principles can really make a difference for the planet. And 88% of them want brands to do their part to make this information always accessible and at their fingertips. A challenge that Caffè Barbera has taken up with us and that we are sure will bring further value to the work that the historic brand has been carrying out with passion and seriousness for over 150 years,” explained John Hussey, founder of Trackgood.
By scanning a QR code on their smartphones, for the ‘’Clean Cup’, ‘Blue Baron Java’ and ‘Ethiopia Sidamo Gr 1’ coffee products, Caffè Barbera users can discover the places and faces of those who make sure that coffee gets to their table. They can access the images of plantations, profiles of the farmers, the quality certificates, lot numbers, and even travel documents. The certified public information is counterfeit-proof due to the blockchain protocol, whose operational function is a cryptographic hash that confirms authenticity.
In the coming months, all other Caffè Barbera products will each have their own QR Code dedicated to transparency and traceability. A concept that has now become an integral part of the Caffè Barbera brand which, once again, focuses on technological innovation to redefine its positioning on the market in the name of modernity. An effort appreciated and shared also by the main European vertical marketplaces such as aromatico.de, roastmarket.de, koffiecentrale.nl, dekoffieboon.be, shelfnow.co.uk and kavapraha.cz which will offer great visibility to the initiative.