Wegmans Tech VP Joins GS1 US Board to Guide Supply Chain Innovation
TECHNOLOGY
Smita Katakwar To Help Guide US Strategy Supporting Members' Digital Innovation Initiatives and Standards Adoption.
As consumers demand greater transparency and speed from the products they buy, the foundation of global commerce, the supply chain, is undergoing a massive digital overhaul. Recognizing the need for strong leadership to navigate this shift, the GS1 US Board of Governors has elected Smita Katakwar, Senior Vice President of Technology at Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., to its distinguished board.
Katakwar’s appointment is strategic, bringing her deep expertise in digital innovation and enterprise architecture to guide the GS1 US strategy toward greater cross-industry adoption and use of GS1 Standards. These standards, best known as the source for UPC barcodes, provide the common language companies need to identify, capture, and share trusted data across their physical and digital supply chains.
A Career Focused on Future-Ready Retail
Katakwar brings over two decades of experience leading technology strategy and digital transformation for global retail organizations. At Wegmans Food Markets, she currently oversees technology strategy, defining technical roadmaps and delivering immersive customer and employee experiences. Her role also includes governing data and architecture groups to build a "future-ready enterprise architecture" that supports Wegmans' commitment to innovation and customer excellence.
Her prior experience further highlights her forward-thinking approach. Previously, she served as Vice President of Digital at BJ's Wholesale Club and, during her tenure at Sears, she led a team that earned a patent for smart home service and delivery concepts. This background in consumer-facing technology and complex digital systems makes her an invaluable asset to the GS1 US mission.
Leading the Charge for Interoperability
The GS1 US Board of Governors includes senior executives from industry giants like Amazon, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Kroger, PepsiCo, Target, and Walmart. This collective leadership is essential for ensuring that major industries, including apparel, retail grocery, foodservice, and healthcare, evolve together toward greater efficiency and trust.
Bob Carpenter, President and CEO of GS1 US, highlighted Katakwar’s role: “As companies adapt to a more connected, data-driven supply chain landscape, our board's leadership helps ensure that industries evolve together toward greater efficiency, visibility and trust. Smita's deep technology expertise and vision for innovation will be instrumental as GS1 US continues to advance data interoperability and digital capabilities across industries.”
The need for robust, standardized data has never been greater, especially as consumers increasingly shop across physical and digital channels. Katakwar will help guide GS1 US in its mission to create a common, trusted language for product data that ultimately allows businesses to deliver safer, more authentic, and more consistent experiences to customers around the world.