Trade-Readiness Certification Program
Educating Small Businesses to Become Trade Ready in Grocery and Foodservice
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.
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.
Financial support was provided through the AgriAssurance Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
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. (External link opens in new tab.)
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
* 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).
Registration Now Closed
You can still learn how to become trade-ready. Check our small business education self-paced eLearning modules to help you get your products to market and meet trading partner requirements.
We're Here to Help
If you need help getting started or have questions, contact our Subscriber Support team.
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