Biggart joined amid GS1’s work with retailers and suppliers in the grocery sector to implement productDNA, a system for managing product data to improve efficiency and shopper experience.
Commenting on his appointment, Biggart said: “It’s exciting to be joining GS1 UK’s supervisory board and being able to contribute to the breadth of initiatives that GS1 UK is working on with industry.
‘Collaboration between retailers and suppliers’
“The organisation’s role in facilitating positive collaboration between retailers and suppliers is a vital one and will ultimately lead to better value for UK consumers.”
Joining Sainsbury’s in 2015, Biggart was responsible for space, range and price, formats and design, trading operations, and the trading P&L for Sainsbury’s convenience business, as director of commercial operations.
His previous experience has included senior roles at business consultancies McKinsey & Company and Brunswick Group.
Jim Spittle, chairman of GS1 UK, added: “Graham’s experience and insight will be invaluable to GS1 UK at a time when we are shaping our strategic direction for the next three years and looking to add value to our members through trusted data services based on GS1 standards.
‘Improve data quality’
“Working collaboratively with different stakeholders in industry will ensure that we can agree common ways of working, harmonise processes and improve data quality for the benefit of everyone.”
The supervisory board is responsible for the governance of GS1 UK and determines the organisation’s strategy, the annual operating plan and budget. Its members include senior directors from Tesco, Ocado, John Lewis, Amazon, the Department of Health, Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Unilever, Nestlé and Mondelēz.
Meanwhile, last week, 2 Sisters Food Group appointed former Müller global CEO Ronald Kers as its new chief executive officer.