Senator Kate Lundy, GS1 Australia's CEO Maria Palazzolo, GS1 Australia's manager consumer goods Sean Sloan, Catherine Caruana-McManus from Smarter Planet and cities executive IBM Australia and New Zealand.
GS1 Australia and the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) have been declared the winners of the prestigious national Consumer iAward for GS1 GoScan in the 2013 iAwards Services Domain Category for ICT innovation.
"On behalf of the GS1 GoScan team at GS1 Australia and in collaboration with the AFGC, I am deeply honoured and very grateful to accept this high-profile award," said GS1 Australia's CEO, Maria Palazzolo.
"Winning the VIC iAwards Merit Recipient award in June this year was a huge recognition of the collaborative work done between industry, health professionals and GS1. Being awarded the national Consumer iAward demonstrates how key industry groups like GS1 Australia and the AFGC can lead the innovation and application of new technologies into traditional industries such as food and beverage."
The judging criteria for the 2013 Consumer iAward in the Services Domain Category was based on innovative ICT initiatives that can enable companies to move quickly and seamlessly from a product focus to a customer focus by providing technology to deliver in line with customer requirements.
"This award is a great achievement for consumers, health professionals and for everyone involved in the development of the app. This app is the only app available today that provides consumers with accurate product information from the manufacturer or brand owner. This can have a marked effect on many people living with allergies or special dietary requirements," added Ms Palazzolo.
Launched for free download in March this year, GS1 GoScan is Australia's first whole-of-industry endorsed smart device application that enables consumers to know if a food product suits their special dietary needs with a simple scan of a barcode.
AFGC CEO Gary Dawson said: "This is a great example of industry working together to achieve an outcome above and beyond current labelling expectations and delivering a package that will be able to expand to meet future labelling requirements."
Developed in association with major retailers, local and international food companies, the AFGC, Australian universities and national health organisations including Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, the app helps consumers with allergies, intolerances and special diets by giving them more information about their food – direct from the manufacturer.
"As manufacturers and brand owners continue to list their products on our database, the application will increasingly empower Australians to make more informed food choices," said Ms Palazzolo.
GS1 GoScan is currently available for free download on the App Store and will also be available from Samsung Apps and the Google Play Store on Wednesday 28 August 2013.