How NFC and Blockchain Are Shaping the Future of Product Trust at the World Tea & Coffee Expo 2025

The World Tea & Coffee Expo 2025 in Bengaluru brought together innovators, technology providers, and industry leaders working toward a more transparent and trustworthy global supply chain. Among the most insightful interactions we had was with Terry Katz, CEO of ForgeStop, and Diego Mey, whose work in NFC-based authentication technology is redefining how brands protect their products from counterfeiting.

This conversation offered a deeper perspective on how advanced digital identity technologies are reshaping the future of authenticity, especially in high-value sectors like beverages, premium spirits, specialty food, luxury items, and wellness products.

NFC Tags: The New Standard in Product Authentication

ForgeStop showcased their powerful NFC-enabled authentication system, which uses embedded and implantable NFC tags to provide real-time verification of products. These tags carry a secure digital identity that cannot be duplicated, making them ideal for brands that face risks of imitation or tampering.
What stood out during the demo was how:

• NFC tags offer instant authenticity checks when scanned with a smartphone
• Each product receives a unique, tamper-proof digital signature
• Even value-added items, not just raw products, can be secured using this technology
• The scanning experience is designed for zero friction, helping consumers trust what they purchase

This simple tap-to-verify experience is gaining adoption in premium beverage and spirits brands globally, especially where consumer trust is tied closely to product purity and brand reputation.

How NFC Complements Blockchain Traceability

One of the most meaningful parts of the conversation was exploring how ForgeStop’s NFC solutions align with FoodTraze’s blockchain-driven traceability platform. While blockchain secures the digital record of a product’s journey, NFC brings security into the physical world.

Together, both technologies create a multi-layer verification system:

• Blockchain ensures transparent, immutable supply chain data
• NFC guarantees that the physical product is genuine and not replaced
• The combination strengthens trust from manufacturing to point-of-sale
• Brands can provide end-to-end visibility + authentication in a single scan

This layered approach unlocks stronger product identity, reduces counterfeits, and protects both brands and consumers from fraudulent practices.

Technology That Builds Stronger Supply Chains

Beyond NFC hardware and tags, the ForgeStop team also shared insights into their broader tech ecosystem, covering security protocols, cloud verification workflows, and how their system integrates with existing supply chains. This holistic stack ensures that authentication is not only secure but scalable for global operations.
For FoodTraze, interactions like these deepen our understanding of emerging technologies that can help build smarter, more resilient food and beverage ecosystems. As industry expectations around transparency continue to rise, combining physical authentication (NFC) with digital traceability (Blockchain) is becoming a powerful benchmark for supply chain integrity.

Towards a More Trusted Future

Our interaction with the ForgeStop team at the World Tea & Coffee Expo 2025 reaffirmed a shared vision: a future where authenticity is unquestionable, transparency is accessible, and product trust is built into every step of the journey.

By embracing technologies such as NFC and blockchain, industries, especially food, beverages, and premium consumables, can unlock new levels of safety, accountability, and consumer confidence.