Add a New Trade Item


One of the first steps you'll take when onboarding onto Wholechain is to set up your trade items. You can create a trade item in just a few short steps from the web or mobile app.


  1. Click Trade Items on your left-side menu.
  2. Click Add Trade Items on the upper right-hang corner.

If you want to upload multiple trade items, toggle to Bulk Upload. Click her to learn more about how to use the Trade Item Bulk Import Template.  

  1. Add the Trade Item Name. You can duplicate Trade Item Names as long as each trade item with the duplicate product name has a unique Trade Item ID. Trade Item ID can be added after you click Add Trade Item.
  2. Select the Traceability Type.

Note: There are two core types of traceability to select from that Wholechain enables -  lot-based, as well as serialized traceability. You can read a more detailed explanation of the difference between them in this article, but here's a basic overview: 

  • Lot-based means you're tracing items through the supply chain based on their lot number - which is a group of products that are associated, typically based on their harvest date or production run. 
  • Serial traceability is when you're tracing one single individual product that is differentiated from all other products based on a serial number. Examples would be a car or a smartphone. 
  1. Add UPC, GTIN, and PLU if desired. Note these are NOT required fields.
  • UPC (Universal Product Code) - a 12 digit code, predominantly used in North America and is intended to be scanned at Point of Sale (POS). This field is not required. 
  • GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) - A GS1 identification key / globally unique number used to identify your specific product. Per GS1, every individual product requires its own GS1 GTIN, and every variation of your product (e.g. each size, each colour) requires its unique GS1 GTIN. Your customers may or may not require unique GTINs for each of your products. Wholechain does not require unique GTINs, as long as you have unique trade item IDs for each of the products (including the variations). This field is not required. Recommended for GDST. 
  • PLU (Price Look Up) - PLU codes are 4 or 5-digit numbers and appear on a small sticker applied to the individual piece of fresh produce. The PLU number identifies produce items based upon various attributes which can include the commodity, variety, growing methodology (e.g., organic), and size. This field is not required. 
  1. Select Product Good Kind. Not required.
  2. Add the Unit of Measure for that trade item. Wholechain can accommodate multiple variations of unit of measure to match how UOM is captured in your system. If the product is measured by raw weight, UOM field would refer to the weight (kgs, lbs). If the product is measured by a defined unit, i.e. X weight per unit (cases, units, totes, pallets), leave “Unit of Measure” blank and Click 'Defined Units' and enter “Unit Quantity”, “Defined UOM” and “Unit Descriptor” instead. 
    • Unit Quantity*: digits; a number 
    • Defined UOM*: LBS, KGS, Cases, Units
    • Unit Descriptor*: cases, units, totes, pallets
  1. Add the Trade Item description, a description of a food product and includes the product name (including, if applicable, the brand name, commodity, and variety), packaging size, and packaging style. Required for GDST.
  2. Click Add Trade Item.
  3. Add Basic Details to your Trade Item.
  4. Add Trade Item Identifier to the Trade Item (not required). Trade Item Identifier is a unique ID assigned to a trade item in your company’s Wholechain account. Trade items must have a unique Trade Item Identifier. Typically this is the ID used in your ERP system or inventory management system.  Trade Item Identifiers are useful if you plan to use the bulk event upload feature.
  5. Add or edit other Trade Item attributes. Click enter or the check mark to save your entries.