Are you sharing enough food & beverage product data—and should you?

Today’s food and beverage shoppers don’t just want flavor or convenience from their products—they want information. They want to know what’s in a product, its origin, the production process, and how all this information aligns with their values and needs. Transparency has become an essential sales tool on grocery store shelves.

Indeed, half of American consumers say they want to understand every ingredient on a label, and regulatory agencies are responding. The FDA and USDA are advancing front-of-package (FOP) labeling proposals to make nutrition data more accessible. Across the Atlantic, the European Union is setting a similar tone with stricter origin and sustainability disclosures.

Food allergies and intolerances are also a growing concern among U.S. consumers and those in Europe, with scientists regularly uncovering new links between environmental exposure and allergen sensitivity. As awareness increases, so does the demand for more precise product data and allergy-safe certifications, especially from families navigating dietary risks.

Whether shopping for allergy-friendly snacks, Halal-certified meals, or locally sourced ingredients, consumers scrutinize every touchpoint, online and on-shelf. They won’t wait for answers if your product data is missing, outdated, or unclear. The question is: are you ready to give them what they’re looking for?

If you want to meet these rising expectations and turn transparency into a competitive edge, this blog covers:

• What product details do shoppers expect—and where do they look?
• Where should you share product transparency details to build trust?
• What happens if you don’t share enough product information?
• How are leading food and beverage brands using transparency to win loyalty?
• How can centralized product content help you meet transparency expectations?
• How can transparency help your brand stand out in a crowded market?

What product details do shoppers expect—and where do they look?

Ingredient lists and nutrition facts are just the start. Today’s food and beverage shoppers expect brands to deliver more information than regulations require, and they want to find it instantly, whether scanning a package or scrolling a product page.

Gen Z and Gen Alpha are leading the charge in this behavior, often prioritizing values-aligned brands and data-rich product experiences.

1. Nutritional data

Consumers are increasingly health-conscious, but the standard black-and-white nutrition panel isn’t always user-friendly. That’s why the USDA is considering simplified front-of-package (FOP) nutrition summaries.

Even before these rules take effect, forward-thinking brands are making this data more visible and engaging using icons, visual callouts, and product comparisons, such as “as much protein as an egg.”

The goal is to let shoppers assess health value at a glance.

2. Allergen disclosures

For families managing food allergies, product transparency isn’t optional; it’s a safety issue. U.S. labeling law requires disclosure of nine major allergens, but many consumers want brands to go further. They’re looking for clear allergy-safe certifications and front-facing indicators that a product is nut-free, egg-free, dairy-free, or suitable for vegan diets.

If your product is certified free from common allergens through the Certified Free From™ program, don’t bury it in fine print.

Make sure badges and safety claims are front and center, both on your packaging and across your digital listings.

3. Sourcing information

The “where” behind your ingredients matters more than ever. Shoppers concerned with sustainability and food miles want more than just the country of origin; they want to trace ingredients to their source.

Product traceability software enables this level of transparency and gives brands a point of differentiation.

Adding QR codes, sourcing maps, or ingredient origins can give your brand a powerful edge with conscious consumers.

4. Sustainability commitments

Claims like organic, non-GMO, and animal welfare-certified now influence purchase decisions across demographics. But to stand out, brands are also highlighting:

• Zero-waste processing
• Ethical labor sourcing
• Charitable partnerships
• Certified environmentally friendly packaging

Make these efforts easily visible across your product labels and digital storefronts. Whether in-store or online, transparency should follow your product everywhere it appears.

More brands now see transparency as a growth driver, not just a compliance task. As product data becomes central to sustainable commerce, accuracy and visibility are critical to building trust and driving long-term value.

Where should you share product transparency details to build trust?

Product transparency doesn’t stop at the label. Today’s shoppers check websites, retailer listings, and social media just as often as they pick up a package.

To build trust and stay compliant, your transparency strategy has to be across every channel, including:

1. Product packaging

Front-of-package (FOP) real estate is a prime branding space. It’s where consumers look first for fast answers: nutritional value, dietary claims, allergen warnings, sourcing certifications, and sustainability badges.

Whether you prioritize clean ingredients, local farms, or climate-friendly processing, that story should start with the packaging.

2. Your online storefront

Product detail pages are digital decision points. Consumers who can’t see certifications, ingredient clarity, or ethical claims upfront may bounce before ever adding to the cart.

Every product listing should highlight relevant badges, traceability features, and differentiators, reinforced with images, charts, or short videos that make the information easy to digest.

Building a better customer experience in digital commerce starts with showing the right product information correctly.

Don’t overlook your merchandising team. They’re often your most powerful users when it comes to getting the transparency details right.

3. Retail and marketplace channels

Whether your products are listed on Amazon, Walmart, or with smaller specialty retailers, syndicated product content must be accurate and consistent.

Any disconnect between what’s on your label, your website, and third-party listings can confuse—or worse, erode trust.

Centralizing your product content ensures that wherever your brand appears, your transparency message accompanies it.

What happens if you don’t share enough product information?

Food and beverage brands face consequences on two fronts: regulatory compliance and consumer trust.

Regulatory risks

If your product data fails to meet evolving standards, whether due to missing allergen disclosures, vague ingredient sourcing, or outdated labeling, you could face:

• Goods rejected at ports
• Costly recalls
• Fines and legal penalties

With new regulations emerging from both the FDA and EU, playing catch-up can be expensive. Getting ahead of compliance with enriched, accurate product data is the safer move.

Consumer risks

Consumers rarely give second chances. If they can’t find the information they need, such as nutritional breakdowns, allergy warnings, or sustainability details, they’ll leave your product behind, whether online or in-store.

Worse, poor transparency can lead to:

• Abandoned carts or in-store returns
• Negative reviews about missing or unclear product data
• Long-term damage to brand perception and loyalty
• Bracketing, where shoppers buy multiple items with the intent to return, simply because they didn’t feel confident making a single choice.

Transparent brands give shoppers confidence. They also reduce the need for customer service interventions or damage control after purchase. The clearer your data, the stronger your position in a competitive category.

How are leading food and beverage brands using transparency to win loyalty?

Food and beverage brands are under growing pressure to share accurate, complete, and up-to-date product data—everywhere their products appear.

Several industry leaders have turned to Inriver’s Product Information Management (PIM) solution to meet that demand at scale.

Coop: Accelerating data accuracy across channels

As one of Sweden’s leading supermarket chains, Coop needed a faster, more reliable way to manage and share product information across its many retail outlets and digital touchpoints.

With Inriver, Coop can update and publish product data across all channels in under 15 minutes. This speed and consistency aren’t just about operational efficiency; they’re critical for building trust.

Whether customers are checking a product’s nutritional details online or comparing allergy info in-store, Coop ensures that the right data is visible, verified, and aligned with expectations. That’s transparency in action.

“With Inriver, we can now update our product information in one place and publish it across all channels in less than 15 minutes.”

– Jonas Taube

Advertising Manager at Coop Sverige

Read the full case study

LIVEKINDLY Collective: Supporting sustainable customer experience

For the LIVEKINDLY Collective, a global plant-based food company, transparency is part of their brand promise. As the company scaled, maintaining data consistency across its portfolio became complex.

Inriver PIM enabled them to centralize product data and deliver accurate, up-to-date information across regions and partners.

This foundation allows LIVEKINDLY to communicate sustainability claims, certifications, and ingredient traceability with clarity, helping consumers make informed, values-based decisions.

“PIM makes everyone’s jobs easier and more efficient. There is still so much you can do with [the Inriver PIM] that we have not yet explored.”

– Nathalie Lindblom

Nordics Supply Chain & PIM Manager at LIVEKINDLY Co.

Read the full case study

Spendrups: Streamlining data for consistent transparency

When Swedish beverage company Spendrups needed to modernize its management and distribution of product data, it partnered with Consid to take over its Inriver PIM implementation in 2019.

The shift followed a decision to repurpose digital product information for its printed wine and spirits catalog, which is sold through its subsidiary, Spring Wine & Spirits, rather than continue with time-consuming manual workflows.

The result is a significantly leaner and more efficient content workflow, with updated product details reused across e-commerce and print. This automation ensures consistent transparency, reduces errors, and keeps Spendrups competitive in a fast-moving, highly regulated category.

“We now have the same information about the articles on all our platforms; e-commerce, website, and catalog.”

– Åse Afvander

Project Manager at Consid

Read the full case study

How can centralized product content help you meet transparency expectations?

Keeping up with transparency demands across markets, channels, and regulations is nearly impossible without a centralized approach. That’s where a purpose-built Product Information Management (PIM) system makes all the difference.

One source of truth

When product data lives in spreadsheets, siloed systems, or across multiple teams, mistakes happen, and consistency suffers. A centralized PIM acts as a single source of truth.

Whether you’re updating nutrition facts, adding new allergen disclosures, or sharing traceability details from a supplier, everything is managed in one place and syndicated everywhere your products appear.

You can take back control of your product data and tame product information chaos with the right product information management solution.

Speed to market

As we saw with Coop, the ability to update and publish product data in under 15 minutes isn’t just a technical win—it’s a transparency advantage.

When new regulations roll out or your product formulation changes, speed matters. A centralized PIM lets you stay ahead of shifting requirements without sacrificing accuracy.

You can drive better transparency outcomes by enriching product content and choosing the right tools for product data enrichment.

Global consistency, local relevance

For brands like LIVEKINDLY Collective, operating across markets with different languages, labeling laws, and sustainability priorities means transparency isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Inriver’s PIM supports localized content without duplicating effort, enabling your team to meet diverse compliance needs while maintaining brand integrity.

For regulated categories or traceable supply chains, a centralized system is also key to powering product traceability software and preparing for future requirements like digital product passports.

How can transparency help your brand stand out in a crowded market?

In food and beverage, transparency does more than reduce risk. It gives your brand a clear and lasting advantage. Shoppers are drawn to brands they can trust, and that trust starts with accurate, accessible product information.

Regulatory compliance may be required, but it won’t win customer loyalty on its own. What sets brands apart is their ability to offer complete, consistent, and easily understood product data across every touchpoint.

When shoppers can quickly confirm what’s in a product, where it comes from, and how it aligns with their values, they’re more likely to choose it and return for more.

With Inriver, your team can:

• Centralize product data from suppliers, teams, and systems
• Enrich product content with traceability, certifications, and claims
• Distribute up-to-date information across websites, retail partners, and marketplaces in real time

Whether you’re preparing for new regulations, launching a new product line, or expanding into new markets, clear and consistent product information helps you stay ahead.

Be the brand that delivers answers. Let transparency be the reason shoppers choose you.

Ready to lead with transparency?

Shoppers expect clarity. Regulators demand accuracy. Brands that deliver both win faster, grow stronger, and build lasting trust.

Start owning your product data. Talk to us to get started.