JICC releases new coupon system aimed at improving efficiency

WASHINGTON The Joint Industry Coupon Committee of the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute today announced the release of specifications for a new coupon system. The new guidelines, the result of a five-year coupon reengineering project by the JICC and GSI US, offer solutions to challenges encountered by manufacturers and retailers with the current 22-year-old system.

The implementation of the new system will take place over a period of two years with manufacturers taking the first step of printing the new data bar alongside the original U.P.C.—a bar code on their coupons. Changes to the face of coupons will be noticeable as early as Jan. 1, 2008. The U.P.C. bar code will be fully retired in 2010 when all retailers will scan the GSI DataBar.

“The GSI DataBar coupon implementation will provide consumers, manufacturers and retailers expanded, accurate and efficient offer-capability in printed form on a broader range of products,” said JICC co-chair Alan Williams, vice president of applications development at the Ahold Information Services division of Ahold USA.

The Application Guidelines are available through GMA, FMI and GSI US.