Simplot Australia integrates IT systems with retailers Coles and Woolworth

SIMPLOT chief information officer Martin Nowak-Rowe has more to worry about than server loads and service-oriented architecture. As the tech chief of a major food manufacturer he also has to keep tabs on the latest technologies to stop produce-borne epidemics.

Using techniques such as batch coding, manufacturers can recall a specific part of a product batch if it is at risk of carrying a disease, according to Nowak-Rowe, whose employer, Simplot, owns brands including Edgell, Bird's Eye and Leggos.

Nowak-Rowe: "We started reworking our information systems strategy last year and began implementing technology in line with our corporate strategy."

"The first thing was to look at the organisation's structure of information systems, and we changed that this year to give a much clearer focus on alignment with the customer base."

This has mainly been taking place on the retail side of the business, where Simplot Australia is aligning itself with Coles and Woolworths.

Simplot Australia has spent $400,000 ensuring its systems integrate with the two retailers to enable an all-electronic distribution process.