TraceGains, the food and beverage industry's networked ingredients marketplace, has launched its Supplier Management Pro, the latest addition to its TraceGains Gather platform. Geared towards emerging brands, growth-oriented startups, and industry innovators, Supplier Management Pro offers a versatile solution for centralizing and optimizing supplier documentation and data, and a no-cost entry point for brands ready to embrace a modern digital strategy.

Disruptive brands are leading the charge on a range of exciting categories in the food and beverage industry, such as functional foods. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, functional foods refer to "a foodstuff that provides a health benefit beyond basic nutrition, demonstrating specific health or medical benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease." Ingredients are the lifeblood of this class of food. Supplier Management Pro is designed to meet the needs of innovators in this and other fast-growing segments.

With Supplier Management Pro, TraceGains has enabled free access to the industry-standard Supplier Management solution set for the first time. As brands grow, a usage-based pricing model ensures that companies can add the services they require, allowing teams to scale the solution seamlessly over time.

"As a food and beverage brand, we need technology solutions that drive compliance and facilitate risk mitigation in our supply chain, all while being cost-effective. It's a laundry list!" said Maria White, supplier quality manager of Hudsonville Creamery and Ice Cream. "Thankfully, TraceGains Gather has provided us with the meticulous data gathering and collaborative prowess we needed to completely transform our supplier management program. Because of TraceGains, we are now more compliant, more informed, and have better tools for tackling the supply chain challenges we face daily."

TraceGains' Supplier Management Pro solution allows growing brands to:

• Source and qualify ingredients and suppliers with integrated access to TraceGains Gather;
• Connect with suppliers, centralize supplier documents, and manage document requests;
• Create and manage digital supplier records and keep track of items supplied;
• Manage items at the ingredient level of the supply chain, with detailed documentation and data;
• Map global intelligence data and alerts to unique supply chains, providing proactive and timely information on risks, regulatory developments, and research.

TraceGains Senior Director of Product Marketing Paul Bradley emphasized the significance of Supplier Management Pro in light of prevailing market trends. "So much of energy in the industry right now is coming from small, determined, creative organizations, whether emerging startups or innovation teams within big brands. Our mission is to meet brands where they are and scale with them as they grow."