Blockchain, all the benefits for retail

Regarding the application of the blockchain to digital payments, finance and supply chain, Steven Barr on Forbes lists three things useful for retail companies:
– Increasing transparency and consumer confidence: the origin of food and medicines can be monitored from production to delivery
– Guaranteeing authenticity and reducing counterfeits: for example, in parts of Eastern Europe and China, the black market for alcohol has exploded The European Union Intellectual Property Office estimates counterfeit alcohol costs the EU member states approximately 1.2 billion euros a year.
– Speeding up delivery and smoothing logistics: fast and controlled transport and distribution for both retailers and consumers