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Are You Ready to Take Your Business to the Next Level?

With funding through the Government of Canada's AgriAssurance Program, GS1 Canada has developed a Trade-Readiness Certification Program for 200 eligible Canadian small businesses in food products. The program educates small businesses on how to meet trading partner requirements across grocery and foodservice channels and provides guidance and resources through the product listing process.

Canada's AgriAssurance program Government of Canada

Financial support was provided through the AgriAssurance Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

About the Program

From farmers and suppliers to manufacturers and distributors to retailers, restaurants and hospitals, it takes an interconnected network of companies to produce, ship, sell and deliver a single product.

Through a series of self-paced eLearning modules, you will learn how GS1 Standards increase business efficiencies by providing a common way for businesses to share accurate, bilingual product information so products and trusted data can seamlessly flow between trading partners. You will also learn how to meet trading partner requirements across grocery and foodservice channels, including unique product identification, product barcoding and providing accurate product data for selling online, in stores, to retailers, restaurants and other institutions.

NEWS RELEASE

November 9, 2022
Ottawa, Ontario Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada To help our smallest agriculture businesses further expand into grocery and foodservices, the Government of Canada is supporting the GS1 Canada Trade-Readiness Certification Program that will allow businesses to meet specific trade requirements. Read full story

Program Benefits

  • Learn how to become trade-ready: Learn how to uniquely identify and barcode products to meet grocery and foodservice trading partner requirements for selling online, in stores, to restaurants and other institutions.
  • Understand how GS1 standards improve efficiency: You will learn how GS1 Standards increase business efficiencies by providing a common way for businesses to share accurate, bilingual product information so products and trusted data can seamlessly flow between trading partners.
  • A one-year paid GS1 Canada Individual or Basic subscription*: Includes up to 10 barcodes and first-year costs for loading and managing your product data. A subscription refund will be issued within 60 days after successfully completing the program. Your subscription and associated license are valid for 12 months and automatically renews annually.
  • Receive a Certificate of Completion: Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a digital certificate acknowledging that your small business has the knowledge required to trade.
  • Access to an exclusive GS1 Canada small business online forum: Connect with other small business owners, have conversations, ask questions, provide answers and advice.

What Program Participants are Saying

"Super helpful content and it's very organized, easy to absorb and the quizzes are fun."
Lian Delos Reyes Brother Sprout Healthy Goods Inc
"The course was very easy to understand and very informative. I learned a lot."
Ekua Ainoo Ampong Ekua's kitchen
"This is a good review for someone who has a sales & marketing background. Otherwise, it is a good start for new entrepreneurs."
AL Amurao Porkie's Chicharon Incorporated
"Very informative, I am glad that I had the opportunity to do this. Thank you."
Pius Ekwulugo Godzone Natural Delights
Super helpful content and it’s very organized, easy to absorb and the quizzes are fun. - Lian Delos Reyes The course was very easy to understand and very informative. I learned a lot. - Ekua Ainoo Ampong This is a good review for someone who has a sales & marketing background. Otherwise, it is a good start for new entrepreneurs. - AL Amurao Very informative, I am glad that I had the opportunity to do this. Thank you. - Pius Ekwulugo

Program Components

Upon acceptance into the program, you will be required to complete 6 self-paced eLearning modules (approximately 35 minutes each) and pass a short quiz, within a specified timeframe. You will also be asked to complete a quick survey at the end of each module to share your questions and comments. Your feedback is important and will help to develop future small business content and initiatives.

The Trade-Readiness Certification Program consists of two sessions:

  • Session 1:
    • Barcodes Simplified
    • Which Sales Channel is Right for You?
    • Pitch Your Product with Confidence
  • Session 2:
    • Canadian Regulatory Requirements
    • Tools for Success and How GS1 Canada Can Help
    • What You Need to Know to Sell Your Products Online
"Thank you for having these modules accessible to small business owners. I found them to be very helpful."
Jacqueline Lee Sonyo Food Co
Thank you for having these modules accessible to small business owners. I found them to be very helpful. - Jacqueline Lee

You will receive a Session 1 Certificate after successfully completing the first three modules and quizzes. Session 2 modules will be available soon; we will notify you by email with an access link. You will receive a subscription refund within 60 days of completing all 6 modules. Your subscription and associated licence are valid for 12 months and automatically renew annually.

*NOTE: GS1 Canada Services automatically renew on an annual basis and applicable Fees will apply, unless Services are cancelled in accordance with the GS1 Canada Terms and Conditions. Upon successful completion of the program (six eLearning modules with a minimum 80% score, completed within the specified time), participants in good standing will receive a refund of their first-year subscription fee, and have the loading and maintenance fees waived for the first year of their subscription only. All access to GS1 Canada Services (including subscriptions) is governed by the GS1 Canada Terms and Conditions and the applicable Service Agreement(s).

Eligibility

  • You are not currently a GS1 Canada subscriber.
  • You are a Canadian company that generates less than $2.5 million CAD in annual gross revenue.
  • Your products are in the food (including cannabis edibles) or beverage (including alcohol) categories.
  • You do not currently have a trading partner, defined as a third-party retailer or business carrying your product in-store or online.

How Do I Apply?

  1. Subscribe to GS1 Canada (Individual or Basic).
  2. During the subscription process (if your business qualifies), you'll be asked to indicate your interest in participating in the Trade-Readiness Certification Program.
  3. If you are selected to participate, GS1 Canada will notify you by email of next steps.
    Space is limited!
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