DEERFIELD, Ill. – FoodChain ID announced the acquisition of Viaware on Jan. 5, a cloud-based food contact risk assessment and integrated supply-chain-compliance-solutions provider.

Food Chain ID specializes in food safety, testing and sustainability, and is recognized for the development, implementation and marketing of the Non-GMO Project Verification labeling standard. FoodChain ID is a subsidiary of Berkshire Partners.

"We are confident the Viaware team will further enhance our growing customer demand for services to market safe and healthy foods globally,” said Brad Riemenapp, chief executive officer for Food Chain ID. “With its focus on food packaging safety, Viaware is a strong strategic fit with FoodChain ID, expanding our technology-enabled services while strengthening our customer base and building on our global profile. With Viaware, we are adding scale to our business in the food safety sector while expanding our targeted portfolio through complementary, technology-enabled supply chain compliance and consulting services."

Viaware was founded in The Netherlands in 2013. The company’s primary product is FOCOS, a web-based application that helps businesses manage and control compliance work and documentation in the supply chain.

FOCOS allows food companies to manage packaging products and raw materials compliance, create customized Declarations of Compliance (DoCs), manage supporting documentation, and communicate with suppliers and customers in a single application. PLM and ERP systems will integrate with FOCOS.

"Since our founding, we've strived to enhance technology-enabled risk assessment of customer food packaging materials,” said Kris Callaert,PhD, technical director of Viaware. “By joining FoodChain ID, we will better serve our customers with global regulatory coverage, enhanced insights, further integrated solutions, and a broader product portfolio. We are looking forward to expanding technology solutions for our customers."

FoodChain ID will combine Viaware's FOCOS software with its gComply, gComply Plus, Supply Chain Management, and Praedexi/Horizon Scanning solutions focusing on food contact regulatory compliance, safety, and risk management.