Alexandria, VA (September 30, 2003) - The WorldWide Retail Exchange (WWRE), the premier Internet-based business-to-business exchange for retailers and suppliers, announced today connectivity with two additional European catalog providers: EAN Belgium•Luxembourg in Belgium and EAN•DAS in the Netherlands. These linkages extend the WWRE’s reach into Europe and enable WWRE members to reach significantly more data through one point of access.

“By establishing these vital links, we are eliminating geographical barriers and enabling our members to create a seamless, international supply chain,” said Cindy Cruzado, global director for WorldWide Item Management. “Additionally, by collaborating with catalog providers around the world on standards for data synchronization and leveraging the existing data pool network, we’re helping the industry as a whole achieve new levels of data accuracy and efficiency.”

“Establishing a working data alignment connection with WWRE is an important step for EAN•DAS to expand standards based international interoperability,” said Ton ten Dam, manager of services at EAN in The Netherlands.

“The interconnection between the Belgian product catalog Central Data Bank (CDB) and other e-catalogues via Exchanges all over the world will enable global players to access and/or upload the product information through one single entry point, said Etienne BOONET, CEO, EAN Belgium•Luxembourg. “But also SME’s will benefit from this worldwide connection for the expansion of their businesses.”

These initiatives are the latest indicators of the WWRE’s leadership in providing a global, industry solution and a single point of access to the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN). Nearly half of the WWRE’s total membership -- which spans all geographies and industry verticals -- plans to conduct data synchronization via the WWRE’s WorldWide Item Management solution in the next year.

About the WWRE
The WWRE is the premier Internet-based business-to-business exchange for retailers and suppliers. Designed to facilitate and simplify trading between retailers, suppliers, partners and distributors, the WWRE currently consists of 64 members from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America with combined sales of approximately U.S. $900 billion. To date, the WWRE has saved its members over $1 billion through the use of online negotiations, its first product offering. For more information, visit the website at www.wwre.org or www.worldwideretailexchange.org.