Thinfilm and G World to unveil smart wine label in China

The G World system will deliver on new Free Trade Agreement initiatives between Australia and China, facilitating trade between the two countries by providing a transparent and accountable system for producers, governments and consumers. Attendees at the 2015 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Shanghai can experience a live demonstration.

G World and Thinfilm will execute a live field trial in collaboration with Ferngrove Wine Group, a Chinese-owned, Western Australia premium wine company. Ferngrove is a large supplier of red wine to the Asia-Pacific region and exports more than 600,000 bottles annually to China. With more than fifty designated retail outlets throughout China, Ferngrove provides a direct line of sight from the vineyard to the Chinese consumer.

G World has placed a 7-figure unit order for NFC OpenSense tags as part of the agreement with Thinfilm and in conjunction with the planned Ferngrove field trial.

Counterfeit wine, particularly in Asia, is pervasive. Recent reports claim that 50-70 percent of all wine sold in China could be fake, with the percentage climbing even higher for premium brands. To better protect winemakers and wine consumers, the G World anti-counterfeiting solution – powered by Thinfilm’s NFC technology – will facilitate authentication of individual bottles throughout the supply chain, ensuring they are packaged, shipped, stocked and purchased in their original factory-sealed state.

Said G World managing director, Grant Shaw, 'The G World system is designed to enhance trade and productivity. One of the significant outcomes is an anti-counterfeit framework that provides transparency and accountability at all stages of the supply chain. We’re excited to leverage Thinfilm’s technology and believe this solution will be of real value to brand producers as well as consumers that demand authentic products.'

NFC OpenSense tags are thin, flexible tags that can detect a product’s sealed and open states and wirelessly communicate contextual content with the tap of an NFC-enabled smartphone or device. The tags contain unique identifiers that make it possible for companies to authenticate and track products to the individual-item level using powerful software and analytics tools. In addition, the tags remain active even after a product’s factory seal has been broken, which empowers brands to extend the dialogue and strengthen relationships with consumers.

Said Thinfilm chief commercial officer, Kai Leppänen, 'Winemakers and retailers currently are in need of a cost-effective and scalable means to track and confirm the authenticity of individual wine bottles across the supply chain. This gap gives counterfeiters an upper hand. We’re excited to show the industry how smart technology can provide an authentic solution.

Said Anthony Wilkes, Ferngrove CEO, 'As one of Western Australia’s preeminent wineries and a major exporter to China, Ferngrove is dedicated to ensuring the authenticity and quality of our wines for our loyal consumers. We look forward to implementing this unique solution over the coming months.'